Byeongno Lee, Preliminary Candidate for Damyang County Governor, Says "Focus on Policy Election, Not Public Opinion Manipulation"

Published 23 Apr.2022 11:17(KST)

Updated 16 Aug.2025 16:29(KST)

"Stop Attempts to Undermine the Nomination System with Baseless Negativity"... Reported to Investigative Agencies

Byeongno Lee, Democratic Party of Korea, Preliminary Candidate for Damyang County Governor.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The Democratic Party's Damyang County mayoral election appears to be shifting from policy discussions to negative public opinion manipulation.

Regarding the Democratic Party's Damyang County mayoral primary candidate screening results, preliminary candidates Choi Hwasam and Kim Jeongo have demanded disqualification of a candidate based on some media reports whose facts have not been verified. Candidate Lee Byeongno has called for an end to this baseless public opinion manipulation.

On the 21st, Damyang County mayoral preliminary candidate Lee Byeongno issued a statement actively refuting the media reports claimed by candidates Choi Hwasam and Kim Jeongo and urged a halt to the baseless public opinion manipulation.

He strongly condemned it as an “irresponsible attempt to shake the Democratic Party’s ‘system nomination’ through baseless public opinion manipulation and negativity.”

He also warned that he would take strong measures, including legal action, against the act of redistributing false information as if it were confirmed facts.

Earlier, Lee Byeongno’s camp filed a complaint with the Damyang Police Station against false informants and broadcasting officials for distorting the ‘condolence money for a friend’s mother’s funeral’ as bribery and for false reporting.

They also filed a complaint with the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office regarding distorted reports that turned the guidance for participation in opinion polls into public opinion manipulation.

The preliminary candidate emphasized, “Broadcasting reports are very serious violations under the Public Official Election Act, and false reports and biased coverage are severely punishable. If the two candidates continue to disseminate false information under investigation as if it were confirmed facts, they will also face serious penalties under the Public Official Election Act.”

He added, “The relevant matter was recognized by the Jeonnam Provincial Party’s nomination committee, which requested explanations from the candidates. After sufficient legal review, explanations were provided, and the committee fairly decided the primary candidates through proper procedures and deliberations.”

Lee criticized, “Ignoring the legitimate screening results of a political party made after careful consideration and attempting to shake the ‘system nomination’ emphasized by the Democratic Party is behavior unfit for a party candidate.”

Finally, he added, “I urge that the election not be further polluted by baseless negative strategies and that candidates compete fairly on policies to earn the choice of party members and county residents.”