Lee Steps Up Attacks: "PPP Is a Reactionary Interest Group, Not Conservative... Democrats Are the Real Conservatives"

57-Minute Speech in Namyangju Focuses on Criticism of People Power Party
"People Power Party Moves to the Far Right... Democratic Party Fills the Empty Conservative Camp"

Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the People Power Party by referring to it as a "reactionary interest group" during a campaign stop in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. In his 57-minute speech, he dedicated most of his remarks to attacking the People Power Party.

Yonhap News Agency

On May 26, in front of Pyeongnae-Hopyeong Station in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, Lee stated, "The People Power Party is not a conservative party of the Republic of Korea," and added, "Until now, they have pretended to be a conservative party, but in reality, they are an extreme right-wing interest group. Now, they have even abandoned the pretense of being conservative and have become a clear reactionary interest group that cannot be called a political party, as they agree with the destruction of constitutional order."

He continued his criticism of Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. Lee said, "Kim, who was chosen by the People Power Party, is not only an extreme rightist himself, but also someone who refuses to sever ties with Yoon Sukyeol, the ringleader of the rebellion." He added, "I officially asked him, 'Will you cut ties with Yoon Sukyeol, the ringleader of the rebellion? You seem to have a special, tearful relationship with the far-right pastor Jeon Kwanghoon; do you intend to end that relationship?' But he never once said he would break those ties."

Lee said, "If you draw a line in the middle, the People Power Party used to be close to the right, but now they say, 'I won't be on the right, I won't be conservative. I'm just a reactionary hardliner. We're just a group that shouts for our own interests,' and they have abandoned the right and moved further to the extreme right." He continued, "Since the right is now vacant, and we cannot leave it empty, we (the Democratic Party) have decided to take on the responsibilities that conservatives should fulfill."

He also said, "Maintaining order is originally a core value of conservative parties," and questioned, "Is the People Power Party really a conservative government, when they have created a society where, as long as you have power, you can receive thousands in bribes and store them in warehouses without being punished, and where the rule of law has disappeared because power is used for the wrong purposes?" He emphasized, "We want to create a normal society where breaking the rules never brings profit, and those who profit by breaking the rules are ruined. Isn't this Democratic Party, isn't this Lee Jaemyung, the real conservative?"

Yonhap News Agency

He also mocked the People Power Party for failing to uphold 'security,' which is considered a core conservative value. Lee accused the People Power Party of "constantly provoking North Korea by saying things like, 'Please fire shots to the south,' 'Please shoot,' 'If there is a commotion, we can win the election,' and engaging in incidents like the Gunfire Scandal and the North Wind Incident." He claimed, "They are a group that commits acts of foreign collusion to provoke military attacks against our country."

He went on to say, "Is this group really a conservative government that understands security?" and added, "It is the Democratic Party that has persuaded North Korea on the basis of strong deterrence, sought coexistence and prosperity, and created peace. This is the Sunshine Policy." He stressed, "Security is the Democratic Party."

Lee appealed for support, saying, "On June 3, please show clearly that we are the owners of this country, and that the owners of this country never want the resurgence of rebellion forces or the election of Yoon Sukyeol's avatar."

Meanwhile, before his campaign speech, Lee, along with Democratic Party lawmakers Choi Minhee, Yoon Hojoong, Kim Byungjoo, and Kim Yongmin, held up placards displaying the early voting date and the shape of the voting stamp as part of a campaign to encourage early voting.

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