President Lee: "Abstaining from Voting Is Siding with Them"... Jang: "Even Voting Encouragement Is Divisive?"

SNS Clash on Second Day of Early Voting for Local Elections

On May 30, the second day of early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "Abstaining from voting is not neutrality; it is siding with those who harm my life and our community." In response, Jang Donghyuk, Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized this as "divisive rhetoric even in encouraging voting."

Jang Donghyuk, Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on May 27, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairman Jang made these remarks on his social media account that day, further stating, "Isn't it actually Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party who are 'those who harm our lives and community'?"

Earlier that morning, President Lee had posted the statement on his social media account under the title "Let's Make Sure to Vote." He also said, "Voting is the lifeline of democracy," and added, "Giving up on voting is the same as giving up on the future of myself and my family."

Chairman Jang pointedly asked, "Who is responsible for making our lives miserable with a real estate hell and the triple economic woes?" and "Who is destroying our community with manipulation and agitation, from mad cow disease, THAAD, Fukushima, and now even Starbucks?" He further commented, "What President Lee is really saying is to vote for the People Power Party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.