Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Han Byung-do said on the 21st that "this local election is a choice between moving toward national normalization together with the effective Lee Jae-myung administration or continuing the machinations of insurrectionary forces."
Han said at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 21st, "The People Power Party local governments, born on the strength of Yoon Suk-yeol over the past four years, are the height of incompetence and irresponsibility."
Han also emphasized, "We must put an end to the regressive four years in this election," adding, "Victory in the local elections is the path to national normalization."
Assessing the Lee Jae-myung administration, Han said, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is proving the public's expectations and trust with results and competence," adding, "The KOSPI, which hovered in the 2,600-point range a year ago, has surpassed the 7,000-point mark, and the scale of exports has also risen to the world's fifth-largest level."
Han added, "Just as a change in national power established the effective Lee Jae-myung administration, it is time to establish an effective local government through a change in local power."
Meanwhile, Han also addressed a series of expressions at recent events and performances by some corporations that appeared to mock the May 18 Democratization Movement, activist Park Jong-cheol, and former President Roh Moo-hyun.
Han said, "We will not stand by the far-right rampage that insults Korea's democracy," adding, "From Starbucks's insult of May 18 and a performance mocking President Roh Moo-hyun to Musinsa's past insult of activist Park Jong-cheol, the unending provocations by far-right forces are not something to dismiss as a spontaneous happening."
Going further, Han noted, "Such behavior is an anti-state crime that threatens the democracy and constitutional order built with the people's blood," adding, "Some far-right groups are defending it, and there are even moves of sympathy in some corners of politics."
He continued, "The Democratic Party will swiftly prepare relevant laws and systems to strongly punish acts that mock or disparage the values of the democratic republic, including the May 18 Democratization Movement."