"Musok·Poktanju Addiction" vs "Slow Sinking"... Intensified Negative Campaigns Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

Democratic Party Highlights 'Yoon's Four Major No-Go Theories'
Yoo's Campaign Vehicle Overturns...Yoon's Side Says "Nothing Works"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, are rehearsing before the start of the 2022 presidential candidate invitation debate jointly hosted by six broadcasting companies and organized by the Korea Journalists Association at the Maeil Business Newspaper Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 11th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] With the 20th presidential election just 20 days away, the negative exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties targeting each other's candidates are intensifying. Earlier, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, declared last month that he would "only talk about people's livelihoods and the lives of the citizens," announcing a halt to negative campaigning. However, as the official election campaign began, the negativity between the parties has heated up even more.

Foreign media criticized, saying, "The upcoming presidential election has reached a new historic low to the point it is called an 'election of dislikable candidates'." Given this situation, concerns are rising that citizens' political disgust may deepen.

On the 16th, during a campaign rally in front of Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul, candidate Lee continued his offensive remarks against Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate. Lee said, "The incompetence that cannot even seize opportunities and the irresponsibility that uses the power given to change the world for personal revenge are sins that ruin our community," adding, "Incompetence is not something to be proud of. To call upon capable people and select loyalists among flatterers, you need to know something to issue a badge of office."

He continued, "Regardless of whether the economy collapses or the stock market crashes, they raise tensions by talking about the unnecessary deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense)," and criticized, "We must change the absurd reality where one candidate is said to be a factor increasing the risk of war in Korea, and people retort by calling him 'an ignorant person.'"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is giving a speech at a focused campaign rally held near Jamsilsaenae Station in Seoul on the evening of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content appears to follow the 'Campaign Message Tone (Draft)' internal document recently prepared by the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party recently presented four issues to highlight about candidate Yoon during public speeches in the official campaign period: ▲ incompetence and ignorance ▲ superstition ▲ headquarters chief (a shorthand for himself, his wife, and mother-in-law) allegations ▲ declaration of revenge politics.

The Democratic Party also included campaign phrases in the document such as "Yoon Seok-yeol has looked down on the people all his life as a prosecutor," "We cannot entrust national governance to a bomb-ju (bomb shot) addict," and "Yoon's wife Kim Gun-hee is the 'queen of fabrication.'"

The People Power Party criticized this document. On the 15th, Cha Seung-hoon, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party's campaign headquarters, issued a statement saying, "Seeing candidate Lee's campaign message tone filled only with lies and slander against the opposing candidate, I cannot help but feel dismayed," and warned, "If Lee's falsehoods and negative attacks continue throughout the campaign, the public will solidify their conviction for regime change and actively go to the polls to punish through voting."

Although the Democratic Party seems to intend to point out candidate Yoon's qualifications, this is effectively negative campaigning, drawing criticism as it contradicts Lee's declaration to stop negativity. Earlier, on the 26th of last month, Lee held a press conference at the Democratic Party office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, emphasizing, "I will stop all negativity from now on. I ask the opposition party to join as well."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 'The Power of Chungbuk, the President Who Creates Tomorrow!' campaign rally held on Seongan-gil, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, on the afternoon of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, a professor affiliated with the People Power Party's campaign headquarters stirred controversy by posting a comment about the overturning accident of Lee's campaign vehicle, saying, "This is what it means when nothing goes right."

Professor Lee Han-sang of Korea University, who was in charge of policy work at the People Power Party's campaign headquarters, posted on his Facebook on the 15th, along with a photo of the accident involving Lee's campaign vehicle, "It is truly a relief that the two passengers only suffered minor bruises," but added, "All that remains is to watch helplessly like a dog chasing a chicken looking at the roof as it slowly sinks." As the controversy grew, Professor Lee deleted the post and reportedly resigned from his position.

Given this situation, voter fatigue is increasing. With this presidential election being called the 'worst-ever election of dislikable candidates,' the intensifying negative exchanges raise concerns that citizens' political disgust may deepen.

Kim, a 20-something office worker, said, "There is no suitable candidate to vote for in this election. I want to vote for a candidate who is moral and honest. But both candidates have various controversies, don't they?" He added, "Since it has come to this, I would rather hear more detailed policy discussions, but both seem to focus on negativity." He continued, "New controversies or suspicions about the candidates come out every day, so it's exhausting."

Foreign media also focused on the harsh negative attacks between the two major party candidates. The U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) on the 8th (local time) evaluated Korea's presidential election, saying, "The upcoming election has reached a new historic low to the point it is called an 'election of dislikable candidates,'" and added, "The endless controversies surrounding the two candidates are wearing out voters, according to public opinion polls."

Meanwhile, as the negative exchanges worsen, each party issued warning messages. Woo Sang-ho, the general campaign headquarters chief of the Democratic Party, sent a message to Democratic Party spokespersons the day before, stating, "Excessive or provocative language attacking the opposing candidate and party must never be used."

On the morning of the 17th, Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party's campaign headquarters, at a joint meeting of the campaign headquarters and the floor leadership at the National Assembly, urged, "Please keep in mind that individual mistakes by members can disgrace the party, and be careful with your conduct and speech to avoid scandals," emphasizing, "For victory in the presidential election, we will not hesitate to cut off limbs if necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.