Ruling Party Slams President Lee's Voter Message, Calls for 'Judgment'

A senior official from the ruling People Power Party has sharply criticized President Lee Jae-myung's message encouraging voter turnout, labeling it "self-criticism" and urging the public to "judge the worst lowlifes" in the upcoming elections. Jang Dong-hyuk, the party's standing election committee chairman, accused President Lee of abusing presidential power for personal benefit, particularly in his push for a special prosecutor to nullify ongoing trials.

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In this election, the people will rise up and surely judge Lee Jae-myung, the 'worst lowlifes,' and the Democratic Party, the 'old-guard vested interests.'

Jang's remarks, made on Facebook, directly addressed President Lee's social media post which stated that "in a democratic republic, the silence and abstention of the sovereign give an opportunity to those who deceive the people, abuse power for personal gain, and ruin the lives of me and my family." Jang countered that abstaining from voting would give President Lee an opportunity to "cancel his trial" and urged people to vote to "reopen Lee's trial."

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Abusing the greatest power for personal gain, isn't he the very person who is abusing power the most for private interests?

Further escalating the rhetoric, Jang echoed President Lee's own words about "servile servants" versus "evil rulers" who "destroy the world and inflict pain on the people." Jang asserted that President Lee is the "evil ruler" who must be judged by the sovereign's hand. He also invoked Plato, stating, "The price of political apathy is to be ruled by the worst lowlifes," and identified President Lee as the current ruler fitting that description. Song Eon-seok, a co-chairman of the election committee, also criticized the "dazzling sword dance of power" surrounding investigations and presidential messages, suggesting a sense of impunity.

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Voter abstention is an opportunity for Lee Jae-myung to 'cancel his trial.' We must vote to reopen Lee's trial.

The opposition's strong condemnation highlights the intense political polarization surrounding the elections. The ruling party is framing the vote as a referendum on President Lee's leadership and alleged abuses of power, urging voters to decisively reject him and his party, whom they label as "old-guard vested interests."

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The 'evil ruler' who destroys the world and inflicts pain on the people must be judged by the sovereign's hand.