Lee Jae-myung on 'Lee Young-sun's Fall': "The Ruling Party Recommends Candidates Who Engage in Speculation"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated regarding the cancellation of Lee Young-seon’s nomination for Sejong City Gap constituency due to allegations of real estate gap speculation and false property reporting, "It was truly like amputating an arm, painful and regrettable, but we took measures to not nominate, withdraw the nomination, and expel."

On the 24th, while visiting Saemaeul Traditional Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul to support general election candidates, Lee told reporters, "Candidate Lee Young-seon committed an unforgivable sin against the party and the people," adding, "She owns four apartments and six officetels, but reportedly only declared one apartment and one officetel to the party." He emphasized, "A lawmaker who should set an example for the people causes despair through gap speculation, and even deceives the party and the public during the party’s nomination screening. Such a person must not be allowed into the National Assembly, even if it means losing seats."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung visited Jamsil Saemaeul Traditional Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 24th, greeted citizens, and held an on-site press conference. From left to right: Nam In-soon (Songpa-byeong), Song Ki-ho (Songpa-eul), Leader Lee, Jo Jae-hee (Songpa-gap).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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According to the property list reported to the National Election Commission, former candidate Lee (including spouse’s joint shares) declared four apartments (in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province; Seo-gu, Incheon; Sejong City, etc.) and six officetels (in Suwon-si and Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province; Dalseo-gu, Daegu; Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, etc.). The value of these properties was 3.8 billion KRW, with debts including rental deposits and bank loans amounting to 3.7 billion KRW.

The day before, Lee Jae-myung decided to expel and cancel the nomination of candidate Lee, who falsely reported assets, using emergency disciplinary authority delegated from the party’s Supreme Council.

Lee said, "While the party also failed to properly verify, the current system’s limitations make verification impossible," adding, "Based on this experience, I believe the system should be improved through legal amendments to allow verification of candidates’ property status." He also expressed regret to the voters of Sejong City Gap constituency, who were effectively deprived of choice, saying, "Because of this measure, we have practically handed over a seat in Sejong City Gap, a district close to a stronghold, to the opposing party."

He continued, "It is truly dangerous and regrettable to cancel the nomination in a district where the Democratic Party could win stably while striving to secure 151 seats for a majority," and said, "I ask the public to compare our sincere efforts with the People Power Party, which recklessly nominated candidates involved in such speculation."

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the election campaign committee, told reporters at the National Assembly that day, "Despite the pain of cutting off flesh and blood for Leader Lee, he urgently and swiftly canceled the nomination to meet the public’s expectations."

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