The People Power Party member and attorney Seo Sang-beom, who served as the representatives for the National Assembly in the impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk-yeol, criticized the appointment of Seo as the candidate for the Justice Innovation Party in the by-election for the Guro District chief, stating, "He will not be free from criticism that he even exploited the impeachment of the president for running in the election."
Seo Ji-young, the spokesperson for the People Power Party, noted in a statement on the 16th, "The Justice Innovation Party itself said, 'If the impeachment of President Yoon is decided, then we will garner more strength to complete the impeachment in Guro,'" adding that they cannot deny using the impeachment trial of the president as a campaigning ground.
At a press briefing on current issues held that day, attorney Seo Sang-beom declared his candidacy for the Guro District chief by-election, stating, "This election is beyond just electing one district chief; it is a showdown against the insurgent forces existing throughout society."
Spokesperson Seo Ji-young pointed out that attorney Seo Sang-beom served as the legal secretary during the Moon Jae-in administration and is the chair of the legal committee of the Justice Innovation Party. Seo Ji-young said, "Some instigate impeachment through insurgent operations, while others argue for impeachment as part of the representatives, halting the duties of the government of the Republic of Korea with their role-play."
She continued, "Since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, 460 million won has been spent on pro-Moon Jae-in leaning jurists, including those from the Moon Jae-in government, in the impeachment proceedings led by the Democratic Party of Korea," and added, "The public anger will only grow as the impeachment initiated by the Democratic Party goes beyond the income sources of certain factions of jurists to be used in elections."