People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said Tuesday that President Lee Jae-myung's act of bringing out his ballot during early voting to check whether it was a spoiled vote was "clearly deliberate and illegal campaigning," adding that "the president violated his duties of political neutrality and electoral neutrality and broke the law to appeal for support for a specific candidate."
Holding an emergency press conference at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, the same day, Jang claimed, "President Lee blatantly engaged in illegal campaigning while casting his early vote. Using the excuse that the stamp was not properly imprinted, he brought the ballot out of the polling booth." He added, "He did not even cover the ballot, but rather deliberately kept pointing with his hand so that the ballot would be visible toward the broadcast cameras."
Jang described Lee's actions as "clearly deliberate." He said, "Isn't the president holding up his ballot at the polling station and debating whether it is valid or invalid a signal that says, 'I voted for this candidate and this party, so I hope you, the people, will also vote for this party and this candidate?'" He added, "The 'gaeddal' who saw that will move in lockstep."
He continued, "The Presidential Office even went so far as to control coverage to aid this illegal campaigning." He said, "Lee Gyu-yeon, the senior secretary for public relations and communications, personally visited the press room and openly dictated editorial policy, saying, 'If you close up on the ballot, the media outlet will get into trouble.'"
He then criticized, "This is a picture of Korea that only existed during the days of military dictatorship." Jang said, "Engaging in illegal campaigning is grounds for impeachment, and ordering the control of coverage is also clearly grounds for impeachment." He also pointed out, "The National Election Commission is talking nonsense, saying, 'It was not shown deliberately, so it is not invalid.'" He added, "In the first place, there is no provision anywhere in the election law that examines 'intent.'"
Jang appealed, "At this point, we must put a stop to the reckless course of President Lee and the Democratic Party of Korea," urging, "Please use your precious vote to halt the unprincipled President Lee and the arrogant Democratic Party."
