Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do criticized the People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the June 3 local elections on Wednesday, saying, "Begging the far-right for votes will only bring the collapse of conservatism." Han raised the level of criticism against the PPP as the gap in approval ratings narrowed. He also appealed for support, urging voters to "cast ballots for the Democratic Party's competent candidates."
Speaking at a floor leadership meeting at the National Assembly, Han said, "The People Power Party is looking only to the far-right, which is destroying Korea's democracy and community."
He claimed, "The People Power Party is dragging Korea back to the Yoon Suk-yeol era of madness and delusion," adding, "They are once again denying the end of insurrection, the recovery of livelihoods and grand social reform, while claiming to be the heirs of Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrection forces."
Han continued, "Some lawmakers and candidates of the People Power Party, including leader Jang Dong-hyuk, are not only shielding far-right forces that have directly insulted the May 18 Democratization Movement and democracy, but also bringing their reckless behavior into the election arena, inciting hatred and ridicule and fomenting national division."
He further stressed, "They are distorting and disparaging the legitimate concerns raised by President Lee Jae-myung, who has emphasized social integration and a healthy civil society, and are even mobilizing anachronistic red-baiting to insult the president, who is the representative of the people." He added, "At this point, leader Jang is not the head of the main opposition party but is closer to a far-right YouTuber."
Han also appealed for support for Democratic Party candidates. "The candidates who will revive people's livelihoods and realize Korea's great leap forward are the Democratic Party's candidates," he said. "We pledge to the people the Democratic Party's five major visions." The five visions Han mentioned include balanced national development centered on the "5 Poles and 3 Special Zones" framework, achieving an economic great leap, guaranteeing opportunities for the socially vulnerable including youth, the state's responsibility for daily life such as childcare, and grand social reform including the complete end of insurrection.
