Seoul: Acting President Lee Ju-ho presided over a ministerial meeting Monday to discuss support measures and preparations for the June 3 election as candidates kicked off their official campaigns, his office said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting was attended by officials from the ministries of education, foreign affairs, justice, defense, interior, and culture, along with police and other agencies. The primary focus was on addressing illegal acts related to the upcoming election. Acting President Lee instructed officials to maintain public discipline to ensure a fair election, pledging to "sternly" respond to illegal acts that could undermine the election's fairness with a "zero-tolerance" policy.
Lee emphasized the significance of the election, stating, "This election has to become a historic turning point to accomplish national unity beyond a simple process to elect a new leader for the country." He stressed the need for the election to be conducted fairly and transparently to maintain the people's trust.
The government has outlined plans to support the election watchdog in its efforts to combat illegal activities, including the dissemination of false information, election-related violence, bribery, and the use of deep fakes.
Currently, seven candidates have announced their official bids for the election, including front-runner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party.