Reform New Party Candidate's Alleged Fabrication Sparks Controversy... Lee Junseok: "Deeply Apologize, Will Fully Cooperate with Investigation"

Lee Joon-seok: "We Feel Infinite Responsibility as He Was the Reform New Party Candidate"

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, issued a statement on June 18 regarding allegations involving Jeong Ihan, the former Reform New Party candidate for Busan mayor, saying, "First and foremost, I deeply apologize to the public and to the citizens of Busan." Lee stated that the party would not only fully cooperate with the investigation but also conduct its own internal inquiry to hold those responsible accountable.

Through social media on this day, Lee said, "In light of the incident reported yesterday concerning the former candidate Jeong, I cannot hide my profound sense of shock and heaviness," adding, "Since Jeong was a candidate nominated by the Reform New Party, we feel an infinite sense of responsibility for this matter."

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, and Chun Haram, floor leader, are entering the highest council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Geumjeong Police Station in Busan announced that it has begun verifying the facts regarding the possibility that the alleged beverage-throwing incident involving the former candidate Jeong during the recent Busan mayoral election campaign may have been fabricated.

Lee stated, "If the details disclosed by the investigative authorities and reported by the media are true, this would constitute a grave election crime that is almost unimaginable," adding, "This is an act that exploits voters' trust and undermines the very foundation of democracy—the electoral system itself—which can never be tolerated." He continued, "The Reform New Party will actively cooperate with the investigative authorities throughout every procedure to ensure that not a single doubt remains," and added, "We will also activate the party's own fact-finding committee and hold the former candidate Jeong strictly accountable, both civilly and criminally, according to the facts as they are revealed."

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