Democratic Party Launches Public Relations Blitz Alleging 'Erosion of Rule of Law' Under Lee Administration

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the December 12th military coup, the Democratic Party (DP) has articulated its position on the legal landscape of past administrations and the Daejang-dong scandal. The party aims to formally present its views on the current state of the rule of law.

The DP plans to highlight instances of alleged rule of law violations during the Lee Myung-bak administration, citing allegations of judicial misconduct and attempts to control the media. The move is interpreted as an effort to cultivate critical public opinion regarding the current administration's law enforcement and, ultimately, undermine the legitimacy of the government.

The People Power Party (PPP) countered with a public rally on November 22, 2025, in Gwangbok Central Street, Busan. At the rally, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk called for an end to the "Lee Jae-myung regime," escalating the party's offensive against the DP.

“The Democratic Party is trying to cover up its past wrongdoings while exaggerating baseless suspicions to deceive the public,” Jang asserted. “We must seize this opportunity to prevent the DP's false propaganda and create a just Republic of Korea.”

That same evening, the PPP held another public rally in Ulsan, aiming to rally its support base. Jang Dong-hyuk again took the stage to criticize the DP and emphasize the need for a change in government.

Prior to the Ulsan rally, Jang Dong-hyuk visited the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss local economic issues. He listened to the concerns of local business leaders and pledged to explore government support measures.

The PPP plans to continue its public rallies in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on the 23rd. At the Changwon rally, the party intends to announce regional development strategies related to the Southeast Metropolitan Area project and garner support.

Meanwhile, the DP has denounced the prosecution's decision to forgo appealing the Daejang-dong case as an “act of undermining judicial justice” and announced it will push for a special prosecutor investigation. The party is also reportedly considering submitting a request for a parliamentary investigation into the allegations.

A DP official stated, “The prosecution's abandonment of the appeal is a clear dereliction of duty and an attempt to conceal the truth of the case. We must uncover the full details of the case through a special investigation and punish those responsible.”

The PPP dismissed the DP's push for a special prosecutor as a “politically motivated offensive” and stated that it will “wait and see the results of the prosecution's investigation.”

As the two parties' attacks intensify, the political situation is expected to become more chaotic. In particular, with the anniversary of the 'December 12th military coup' approaching, public attention is focused on the direction of public opinion as the two sides' arguments sharply contrast.

This public relations battle is interpreted as the beginning of a fierce competition between the two parties to secure support ahead of next year's local elections. The DP's strategy is to target swing voters by highlighting allegations of rule of law violations during the Lee Myung-bak administration, while the PPP aims to consolidate its conservative base by advocating for judgment of the 'Lee Jae-myung regime'.

Political commentators predict that “this public relations battle will have a significant impact on the results of next year's local elections” and that “both parties will be deeply concerned with developing strategies to consolidate their core support base while winning over swing voters.”

In the future, the two parties are expected to actively promote their arguments through TV debates, media interviews, and social media, and to further escalate their criticisms of each other. They are also expected to focus on shaping public opinion by gathering opinions from various sectors, including civic groups and academia.

An official in the political arena assessed that “this public relations battle is more than just a political struggle; it will be an important watershed that will determine the future of the Republic of Korea” and urged that “the public must carefully examine the arguments of both parties and make the right choice.”

The DP plans to continue to disclose additional materials related to allegations of rule of law violations during the Lee Myung-bak administration and secure testimonies from related parties to further expand its public relations campaign. It will also continue to raise suspicions related to the Daejang-dong case and increase pressure on the government and the ruling party.