Calls for thorough investigation into Han Dong-hoon supporters' alleged fraudulent address registration, blacklist

Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party of Korea's overall election campaign headquarters chief, speaks at a press briefing at the National Assembly on June 1. [Yonhap]
Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party of Korea's overall election campaign headquarters chief, speaks at a press briefing at the National Assembly on June 1. [Yonhap]

The Democratic Party of Korea launched a fierce last-minute offensive against the People Power Party on Monday, one day before the June 3 local elections.

Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's overall election campaign headquarters chief, told reporters at a National Assembly press briefing that the PPP was "fixated solely on illegal campaigning and rallying far-right 'Yoon Again' forces." He said the fundamental nature of the election remained unchanged: "This is an election to judge the insurrection forces and to judge the far right and those who operate outside the law."

Cho trained his fire on misconduct allegations surrounding supporters of Han Dong-hoon, the independent candidate running in the Busan Buk-gu (Bukgap) National Assembly by-election. He raised allegations of fraudulent address registration among Han's supporters, as well as what he called a "blacklist" — a document purportedly classifying local merchants by political affiliation — and strongly urged the National Election Commission and investigative authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

Cho also sharply criticized the campaign trail appearances of two former conservative presidents. Regarding former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye stumping for opposition candidates, he said: "If their appearance rallies some voters, it will equally rally sensible citizens who criticized those two presidents and supported their impeachment." He again framed the election around defending against insurrection and overcoming the far right.

On the outlook for the National Assembly by-elections being held concurrently with the local elections, Cho identified five of the 14 total constituencies as battlegrounds. "Pyeongtaek, Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang, Daegu Dalseong, Ulsan Nam-gu (Namgap) and Busan Buk-gu (Bukgap) are all competitive — sometimes against PPP candidates, sometimes against candidates from other parties, and sometimes against independents," he said.

Cho particularly noted a shift in sentiment in Daegu, long considered PPP stronghold territory. On the Daegu mayoral race, he said residents themselves "seem quite surprised that it has become a close contest," and shrugged off the PPP's claim that the race was already settled as "nonsense."

On the North Jeolla gubernatorial race — thrown into confusion by independent candidate Kim Kwan-young's "presidential marketing" — Cho declared that the Democratic Party had regrouped around its candidate, Lee Won-taek. "From candidate Lee down to city council and county council candidates, the No. 1 team has been well built and is running a disciplined campaign," he said, adding that "the internal disorder has been sorted out." Asked why co-standing campaign committee chairman Han Byung-do had been practically stationed in North Jeolla, Cho said: "Shouldn't we make sure we have a firm grip on victory?"


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