"Accept the Unification Church Special Prosecutor Act"... People Power Party Busan Lawmakers Urge Jeon Jae-su to Withdraw Candidacy

People Power Party Lawmakers from Busan Hold Joint Press Conference on March 19

On March 19, members of the People Power Party (PPP) representing the Busan region called on Jeon Jae-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, to withdraw from the Busan mayoral race, citing suspicions of his ties to the Unification Church.

The PPP lawmakers from Busan held a joint press conference at the National Assembly on the same day to voice these concerns. They stated, "Assemblyman Jeon is under investigation for suspected collusion and corruption involving the Unification Church," and added, "A person being considered as a candidate for Busan mayor now stands at the center of a controversy over integrity and morality."

They further explained that not only was Assemblyman Jeon's spouse questioned as a witness the previous day, but Jeon himself is also scheduled to be summoned and investigated as a suspect. Referring to testimony from a former Unification Church executive during the special investigation, the lawmakers elaborated on the suspicions surrounding Jeon.

Jeon Jae-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the interview for the metropolitan mayoral candidate held at the Democratic Party of Korea Central Party Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The People Power Party also raised issues regarding the response of investigative authorities. They criticized that, despite the special investigation team securing key testimonies and internal documents, there were delays in handling the case. They also claimed that the joint investigation team, which took over the case, caused fairness concerns by delaying search and seizure procedures. The PPP called on the investigative authorities to clearly establish the facts related to these suspicions.

Jeon's recent public activities were also criticized. The PPP lawmakers from Busan asserted that Jeon is continuing his campaign for Busan mayor without providing sufficient explanations or reflection regarding the allegations.

The PPP also directed criticism at the Democratic Party of Korea, stating that the party has either remained silent on the matter or shielded Jeon. They urged the Democratic Party to cooperate in uncovering the truth behind the suspicions rather than fielding a controversial candidate in the upcoming local elections. The lawmakers said, "The Democratic Party should abandon its ambition to fill local power with individuals under serious criminal suspicion and first accept the 'Unification Church Special Prosecution Act' proposed by the People Power Party."

The People Power Party also pressed Jeon personally to reconsider his candidacy for Busan mayor. They argued, "The minimum responsibility Assemblyman Jeon owes citizens is to halt his bid to become Busan's representative and to sincerely cooperate with the investigation and special prosecution procedures."

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