Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, straightens his clothing before his remarks at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News

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Lee Junseok, leader of Gaehyeok Shindang, announced on the 5th that he plans to hold a public debate with Jeon Hangil (legal name Jeon Yugwan), a former instructor-turned-YouTuber, over allegations of election fraud. Lee said, "I will create an occasion that will put an end, once and for all, to the disgraceful behavior of those who promote election-fraud theories."

Attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Lee stated, "I will hold a public debate with Mr. Jeon at the earliest possible date." Previously, he had proposed a public debate on election-fraud claims circulating within segments of the far-right conservative camp.

He said, "It has been nearly six years since the April 2020 general election, and in the meantime all 126 lawsuits filed to invalidate the election results or the winners have been dismissed without a single exception," adding, "All this talk about Japanese flags, cabbage leaves, and shape-memory paper has been completely refuted in court, scientifically disproven, and legally concluded."

Members of Daean-gwa Mirae, a group of moderate first- and second-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, invited Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, to the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 3rd to hold a debate titled "Diagnosis and Solutions for Korea's Conservative Crisis!" Photo by Yonhap News

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Lee went on, "Despite that, what election-fraud theorists seek to gain through conspiracy theories is to undermine trust in the national system so they can reap political benefits and use that to maintain their political influence," pointing out, "On this issue, the conservative camp as a whole has been cowardly, and at times even showed signs of trying to ride that wave. The progressive camp stood by as if enjoying the sight of conservatives struggling under false narratives."

Regarding Jeon's counterproposal for a four-on-four debate, Lee said, "There is no such thing as an expert in conspiracy theories. There are only people who lie professionally," and continued, "I will face them alone. Mr. Jeon can bring 40 people instead of 4. In a matter where all 26 lawsuits have been dismissed, their claims will not become any stronger whether 4 people or 40 people spout lies and nonsense."

Jeon Hangil, who was referred to the party Ethics Committee for disrupting a joint speech session at the People Power Party leadership convention, is attending the Ethics Committee hearing held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul in August last year. Photo by Yonhap News

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Meanwhile, Jeon Hangil, a YouTuber and former Korean history instructor who has been insisting on "election fraud" and "Yoon Again" while staying overseas, publicly mentioned Lee Junseok, leader of Gaehyeok Shindang, once again at the airport immediately after returning to Korea, reiterating the same claims.

Jeon arrived at Incheon International Airport on the 3rd on a flight departing from Fukuoka, Japan. It was his first return in about five months since he left the country in August last year, saying he would inform the international community about former President Yoon Suk Yeol's "human rights violations." Standing before reporters right after entering the country, Jeon once again raised suspicions of election fraud and went on the offensive against the media and the political establishment.

Jeon said, "I want to ask the reporters who call election fraud a conspiracy theory," and continued, "Former U.S. President Donald Trump took all 700 ballot boxes in the state of Georgia. He said that in order to prove that his defeat to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election was due to election fraud, he had secured a vast amount of empirical evidence. Then is President Trump also a conspiracy theorist?" he asked in a raised voice.

Mr Jeon Hangil is broadcasting on his personal YouTube channel after visiting the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul in August last year. Yonhap News

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He then brought up Tesla CEO Elon Musk, saying, "Elon Musk likewise said there was election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Is Elon Musk also a conspiracy theorist?" he shouted. In an agitated tone, Jeon stressed, "I want to ask those who say election fraud is just a conspiracy theory," and added, "Don't many citizens deeply distrust the National Election Commission of Korea? Don't they say there are many problems with early voting? What Jeon Hangil is arguing is that we should 'improve' the system. I am saying we should open the ballot boxes and conduct a recount. What is wrong with that?"

Finally, Jeon switched to informal speech and shouted, "Lee Junseok, answer me!" He then pressed further, asking, "Is President Trump a conspiracy theorist? And is Elon Musk, who bases his views on statistics and data, also a conspiracy theorist?"