“Even if one candidate didn’t know how much, it’s clear that there was a team” allegations,
In March, Jang Yechan, former chief youth member of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the Busan Metropolitan Council in Yeonje-gu, Busan, announcing his intention to run as an independent in the 22nd National Assembly election. Yonhap,
,
, ‘Jang Yechan, former top member of the People Power Party, raised suspicions that candidate Han Dong-hoon, former party leader, had operated a ‘comment team’ since his time as Minister of Justice.’,
,
, ‘Former top member Jang appeared on MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focused Perspective’ on the 9th and said, “Especially having been the Minister of Justice, there was a separate team that worked on managing public opinion and creating favorable online sentiment for a certain candidate.” He emphasized, “I am only sharing what I personally saw, heard, and experienced,” and added, “Even if the candidate takes legal action, it is welcome.”‘,
,
, ‘These remarks came in response to a question about how to interpret the ‘comment team’ mentioned in a text message sent by Kim Geon-hee, the candidate’s wife, on January 23. In the message, Kim wrote, “These past few days, I heard that the comment team was being used to defame the chairman and those around him. I was extremely shocked and sad.”‘,
,
, ‘Former top member Jang said, “At the time, Han Dong-hoon’s side reacted very sensitively to online criticism and raised suspicions about the existence of an artificial comment team,” and stated, “The content was completely unverified.” He suggested that the reason for suspecting Kim Geon-hee’s side was Han Dong-hoon’s own experience in operating a comment team.’,
,
, ‘He then said, “It is a story that is connected to a specific individual who intervened in the nomination. Some of Han’s associates, not the nomination management committee, were involved in the verification and selection process of proportional representative candidates,” and added, “They are still connected to the candidate.”‘,
,
, ‘Regarding Han not responding to Kim’s text message, Jang rebutted with the explanation that private communication was inappropriate and said, “Even when asking me for something, it should have gone through the party’s official structure.” He previously claimed that he received a request from Han to defend against attacks by former Reforms New Party leader Lee Jun-seok.’,
,
, ‘He then said, “Even if criticized for being duplicitous and self-centered, there is nothing to say,” and stated, “A political controversy could arise questioning whether the candidate used the intention of First Lady’s apology as a single sacrifice or offering in order to differentiate himself from President Yoon Suk-yeol and advance his presidential ambitions.”‘