'Incheon Gyeyang-eul Nomination, Lee Jae-myung's Direct Request' After Park Ji-hyun's Revelation... Democratic Party 'Controversy Rekindled'

Park Ji-hyun "Lee Jae-myung directly requested nomination"
Jo Eung-cheon "Now I understand Park Ji-hyun's shocking candidacy request"
Kang Byung-won "Lee Jae-myung should clarify his position and take responsibility"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Controversy erupted after former Democratic Party emergency committee member Park Ji-hyun revealed that Representative Lee Jae-myung’s candidacy for Incheon Gyeyang-eul in the last local election was at Lee’s own request, not at the request of the Democratic Party. Some Democratic Party leadership candidates have demanded a thorough investigation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In an interview with Edaily released on the 22nd, former committee member Park said, "During the Incheon Gyeyang-eul National Assembly election, Representative Lee directly requested to be nominated. He even pressured by calling directly to ‘call’ him to the (Incheon Gyeyang-eul) area." She added, "He spoke as if he would immediately raise his hand and come out if not nominated, so the nomination was decided, but I have regretted it ever since, thinking it was not right."

Previously, the Democratic Party stated that Lee’s candidacy was requested due to the party’s needs, but this is a completely opposite claim.

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon, who participated as a member of the emergency committee with former committee member Park, expressed through the interview that he now understands Park’s situation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the previous day, Representative Cho wrote on social media, "During the emergency committee period, I mostly agreed with her on other issues, but I now understand the circumstances of former committee member Park, who obsessively fixated on the abnormality of the decision reversal to cut off former leader Song Young-gil’s Seoul mayoral candidacy and Lee Jae-myung’s nomination for Incheon Gyeyang-eul."

He introduced the context that on the day Park mentioned Lee’s by-election candidacy, despite the emergency committee’s dissuasion, Park spoke about it in a public meeting, saying, "I now understand the incident where she broke her promise of ‘not speaking today’ and insisted on speaking during the continued public meeting, shocking everyone." He added, "At that time, I was afraid it would negatively affect the local election, so I found it hard to say it was wrong," and said, "Adding the regret for not speaking up then is why I now loudly say ‘he should not run’ at this party convention."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party leadership candidate Kang Byung-won referred to Park’s interview on social media the previous day, calling it "shocking." Kang said, "What was Representative Lee’s position at that time? Was it ‘the party requested it, and we cannot ignore the party’s political difficulties’? But if Park’s testimony is true, then all of Lee’s claims are false."

He questioned, "Why did he distort intra-party democracy, democratic decision-making structures, and even the system nomination, and despite the unanimous dissuasion of many lawmakers and elders concerned about the party’s future, insist on running? Representative Lee should clarify his detailed position on the series of processes surrounding the Gyeyang-eul nomination at that time and take appropriate responsibility."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, on the same day, Representative Lee visited the grave of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province. In the guestbook, Lee wrote, "I will definitely create a world where people live without unfairness and privilege, and a winning Democratic Party." Apart from this, he held a private meeting with Democratic Party regional chairpersons from Gyeongnam without making any separate remarks on political issues.

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