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October 09, 2007
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Chung Dong-young, who won the first four of eight scheduled UNDP primaries, attended yesterday’s session in Daegu. The other two candidates did not, saying they were protesting what they called a weak stance taken by the party’s leadership against alleged illegal voter registrations by Chung’s campaign. Police on Sunday said they will investigate his campaign. One of his aides was arrested recently on charges of registering hundreds of people to vote in the party primary, including President Roh Moo-hyun, without their consent. Oh Chung-il, chairman of the United New Democratic Party, said yesterday the party’s leaders will review all of the issues and ask legal authorities for an investigation if necessary. Addressing his aides, Chung suggested yesterday morning a higher agency is orchestrating efforts to undermine his campaign. “I am enraged at the idea that the police and prosecutors alone had the power to order a raid on a candidate’s office,” he said. The Blue House said yesterday it had nothing to do with it. “It is not something that the Blue House is involved in,” presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said. “It is a matter that the investigative authorities will handle, following law and order.” UNDP candidate Lee Hae-chan, who claims to be Roh’s preferred candidate, yesterday criticized Chung’s comments, saying there has been a case in which prosecutors have raided the Blue House, although he did not specify it. “Chung’s remark is an insult to the police and prosecutors,” Lee said. Lee also said he will stay in the primary to the end and leave it up to the authorities to judge whether Chung violated the election laws. Lawmakers supporting Lee yesterday visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Central District Public Prosecutors’ Office to urge a quick probe into the alleged illegal registrations. The Seoul police said yesterday that it will wrap up the case by Friday and announce the outcome. The other party candidate, Sohn Hak-kyu, yesterday focused his efforts on encouraging voters to register via their cell phones, hoping he can catch up to Chung. Halfway through the primaries, Chung has a commanding lead with 51,125 votes. Sohn is second with 37,851 and Lee has 29,641. After the alleged voter registration scandal, the UNDP decided to combine its remaining four primaries into one, which will end on Sunday. “It is hard to characterize the cell phone voters, but many of them registered even after [Chung’s] irregularities, so we expect them to vote for the competitive candidate, Sohn” said Representative Chung Bong-ju, one of Sohn’s aides. More than 150,000 people have registered to vote, the party said yesterday. The registration period ends Wednesday. Registered voters will receive three automated calls requesting their vote at random times, from yesterday through Sunday. The party will also survey 5,000 people in an opinion poll. The result will be counted as 10 percent of the total primary votes. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Writer/ Kim Jung-ha JoongAng Ilbo [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
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