Lee Jun-seok: 'How did Han Dong-hoon handle his own suspicions?', 'Jeong Ihan's staged assault' sparks emotional conflict

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok has denied his party was aware of a candidate's staged assault before it became public, while simultaneously criticizing rival Han Dong-hoon for raising the issue.

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The party had no idea.

"The party had no idea," Lee stated regarding the revelation that former Busan mayoral candidate Jeong Ihan admitted to staging an assault during the June local elections. Jeong was arrested on charges of obstructing official duties and violating election law after he fell while trying to avoid a drink thrown by a driver, only for it to be revealed as a self-staged incident. He reportedly confessed to police in mid-May while still campaigning.

Lee asserted that the party could not have known about Jeong's confession, as police did not officially notify them. He also dismissed Han Dong-hoon's calls for the Reform Party to reveal when it learned of the staged assault, pointing to Han's own past controversies. "All citizens know how you handled your own related suspicions," Lee remarked, urging Han not to view the situation with a "crooked eye."

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All citizens know how you handled your own related suspicions, but the Reform Party did not add any comments.

Lee acknowledged that while strengthening candidate verification is necessary, this case was an anomaly among hundreds of candidates. He pledged to enhance post-nomination candidate management to prevent future incidents. Han, an independent lawmaker, had previously posted on Facebook that Jeong's staged attack manipulated voters and potentially altered the Busan mayoral election results, demanding accountability from the police and the Reform Party.

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Jeong candidate received more votes than he could have received due to sympathy for terrorism, and the citizens of Busan voted in deception, and their right to vote was stolen.