Gyeonggi Governor Lee pledges halt to smear campaign against rivals in DP presidential primary

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, center, announces his pledge to halt smear campaigns against rival contenders in the Democratic Party of Korea's primary, during a press conference at the National Assembly, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, the front-running presidential contender for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), pledged Sunday to stop all smear campaigns against rivals in the party's ongoing primary election.

"From this moment onward, I will not even make any negative mention of other candidates, focusing instead on debates about competence and policies," Lee said in a hastily called press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.

"Concerns are growing among party members and supporters about the escalating mudslinging in the party's primary process," Lee said of the background of his pledge.

Lee's announcement came as the governor, former DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon and other DPK presidential contenders are locked in an intense slugfest in the overheated party primary to pick the single presidential contender to run in the March presidential election.

The DPK's leadership has repeatedly warned against mudslinging between the presidential contenders and party elders have also voiced concerns over the infighting, which they said could hammer public opinion toward the entire party.

Lee suggested the establishment of standing communication lines between the DPK presidential contenders as a solution to the escalating smear campaigns.

"I wish that a prior verification process can be conducted first through the communication lines about any facts or private issues requiring verification so that any unnecessary allegations or controversies are not created," he said.

Lee also urged the party leadership to step in in cases of unfounded allegations or slandering launched against the presidential contenders, saying such attacks constitute "a serious act that impairs democracy."

Rep. Lee Nak-yon welcomed the Gyeonggi governor's pledge, expressing a wish that "it could develop into actual action, not remaining as a mere pledge."

"I have been repeatedly told that people felt uncomfortable watching the DPK's presidential primary ... I am sorry for causing concerns," the former DPK leader wrote on his Facebook account, shortly after the governor's press conference. "Now let's move forward and talk about the future," he said. (Yonhap)