A Decision on Lee Nak-yon's Appeal Against Primary Results to Be Made on Oct. 13, But Song Young-gil Says Lee "Should Accept the Results"

[경향신문]

Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil and the party’s candidate for the 21st President Lee Jae-myung enter to attend a formal introduction of the candidate to the party leaders at the National Assembly on October 11. National Assembly press photographers

On October 12, Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil spoke on the appeal against the primary results by former party leader Lee Nak-yon and said, “A decision will be made tomorrow (Oct. 13) by the party’s Supreme Council.” However, he further said, “Lee Jae-myung practically won by over 11%,” and added, “I think the situation calls for him (Lee Nak-yon) to accept the results.”

This morning, Song appeared on the TBS radio show, Kim Ou-joon’s News Factory and said, “The party’s election commission already made the decision (on Lee Jae-myung as the party’s candidate), so there are no legal procedures that need to be mentioned. The Supreme Council will discuss it from a political perspective and make a decision.”

Lee Nak-yon argued that it was unfair to invalidate the votes earned by candidates who dropped out of the primary election. Song said, “Even after reviewing them (special party regulations) with legal experts, we could not find a different interpretation,” and added, “The only possible interpretation was to invalidate the votes already cast for the candidates who dropped out.” When asked if there was any possibility of changes to the interpretation, Song answered, “No.”

Lee Nak-yon’s camp argued that if the votes obtained by the candidates who dropped out of the race were not nullified, Lee Jae-myung would have failed to obtain the majority of votes in the primaries on October 10. He appealed to the method used in counting the votes and is demanding a runoff election.

Song said, “Politically, the two candidates Kim Du-kwan and Chung Sye-kyun have already declared their support for Governor Lee,” and explained, “We are trying to select the presidential candidate of our party, and among the party members with votes nationwide, except for the 0.23% in Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, Lee Jae-myung won by over 50% in all areas.” He argued, “Even from a political perspective, the situation calls for him (Lee Nak-yon) to accept the results.”

As for the possibility of a legal response from Lee Nak-yon, such as seeking an injunction, Song said, “He probably won’t do that.” He further explained, “It could make the Democratic Party look like it is admitting that we are a political party incapable of handling this issue legally,” and said, “Lee Nak-yon has not stated his official position, and I think he is trying to soothe his supporters. Since he once served as the party leader, I expect him to consider the entire party and reach a reasonable decision.”

As for the views that the current confusion could act as an obstacle in forming a single team in the future, Song said, “We will work to respect him. Things are bound to go that way.” He also said, “We have declared on countless occasions that the one-team spirit of the Democratic Party has nothing to do with individual interests. Lee Nak-yon has also repeated that disobedience was not in his vocabulary.”

As for composing a joint election campaign in the future, the ruling party leader said, “Since Lee Jae-myung has the status of governor, he cannot register as a prospective presidential candidate. So yesterday, I suggested that he resign. We will begin preparations when he steps down.”

He said that he appointed Secretary-General Youn Kwan-suk and lawmaker Cho Jeong-sik, a key figure in Lee Jae-myung’s camp, to oversee preparations of the election campaign and had them report to him.

Song said, “Tomorrow, we will have a luncheon with the party’s senior advisory board and Lee Jae-myung,” and shared plans to muster figures inside and outside the party. As for former party leader Lee Hae-chan and Rhyu Si-min, the chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation who recently expressed his intention to resign, joining the election campaign, Song said, “We will have everybody necessary to get our party’s candidate elected to take part.”