Debate is continuing over a guideline by the Democratic Party of Korea that bars candidates in the June 3 local primary from using photos and videos of President Lee Jae-myung taken before his inauguration for campaign promotion. Some lawmakers aligned with Lee said blocking the use of photos and videos of a sitting president is a "self-defeating move" and pushed back. By contrast, Cho Seung-rae, the party's secretary-general, countered that some candidates were found to have misused photos and videos.
Kang Deuk-gu, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said on the 5th on Facebook, "How does a photo taken before the inauguration amount to interference in party affairs by a sitting president," adding, "It is completely wrong, logically and politically. I demand the guideline be withdrawn immediately."
He added, "With President Lee's approval ratings high now, using that as a campaign asset is an entirely natural strategy. It should instead be actively encouraged," emphasizing, "Sending a sudden withdrawal notice to candidates who were about to finalize design and printing has only invited confusion on the ground."
Han Jun-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker running for Gyeonggi governor, also said on the 4th, "Ruling party candidates fought local elections with messages alongside the sitting president in 2018 and in 2022," adding, "There is strong sentiment on the ground that it is hard to accept why a different standard is being applied this time."
Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae said tips and other reports found cases of misusing photos and videos of President Lee. According to Cho, a preliminary candidate for a basic local government head in South Jeolla Province was using a video of President Lee cheering from four years ago to promote the local election. A Seoul district office head candidate labeled a congratulatory message from two years ago as "among President Lee Jae-myung's congratulatory messages" and used it.
Cho said, "It is not acceptable if the past timeline is erased and it appears as though President Lee is supporting a specific candidate now," adding, "We sent the notice to ensure that when using photos and videos, they are used under clear standards, because misunderstandings could spark unnecessary controversy."
He continued, "The intent is to eliminate personal controversy and disputes regarding the president by banning the use of videos and photos that, before the presidency, show support for specific candidates or personal ties in his capacities such as standing co-chair of the election committee or lawmaker," adding, "If campaign materials are produced in a way that could mislead about the facts, candidates could also face disadvantages due to election law violation disputes."