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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Lee Jun-seok apologizes over alleged self-staged assault by candidate Jeong Yi-han

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok apologized to Busan citizens regarding the alleged self-staged assault of Busan mayoral candidate Jeong Yi-han.
  • Lee stated the party would pursue maximum civil and criminal liability against Jeong if the allegations are proven true.
  • The party expressed deep responsibility for the incident, as Jeong was their nominated candidate, and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, has issued an apology to the citizens of Busan concerning the alleged self-staged assault involving Jeong Yi-han, a former candidate for Busan mayor.

If the facts revealed by the investigative authorities and reported by the media are true, this is a grave election offense that is difficult to even imagine.

— Lee Jun-seokCommenting on the alleged self-staged assault by former Busan mayoral candidate Jeong Yi-han.

Lee announced on May 17th that the party has launched an internal fact-finding team. He declared that if the allegations prove true, the party will pursue "maximum civil and criminal liability" against Jeong. "As Jeong was a candidate nominated by the Reform Party, we feel an infinite sense of responsibility for this matter," Lee stated on Facebook. "We once again bow our heads in apology to the citizens of Busan who were hurt by this incident and to all those who supported the Reform Party in good faith."

As Jeong was a candidate nominated by the Reform Party, we feel an infinite sense of responsibility for this matter.

— Lee Jun-seokAddressing the party's accountability for the incident involving their former candidate.

Lee emphasized the severity of the alleged crime, calling it "a grave election offense that is difficult to even imagine" if the details revealed by investigators and the media are accurate. He assured that the Reform Party would cooperate fully with all investigative procedures to leave no room for doubt. The party is committed to ensuring a thorough investigation into the matter.

We once again bow our heads in apology to the citizens of Busan who were hurt by this incident and to all those who supported the Reform Party in good faith.

— Lee Jun-seokExpressing remorse to the public following the allegations.

Previously, Jeong claimed he was attacked on April 27th near the Guseo interchange in Busan while campaigning. His campaign reported that he fell while trying to dodge a beverage thrown from a passing car, losing consciousness and sustaining a concussion and contusions. However, police are investigating the possibility of a self-staged incident. Jeong has since left the party using its online system.

The Reform Party will actively cooperate with all investigative procedures to ensure that not a single doubt remains.

— Lee Jun-seokPledging the party's full cooperation with the investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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