Moon Hee-sang's son Moon Seok-gyun leaves Democratic Party, runs as independent... Press conference on 17th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Moon Seok-gyun, former Standing Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea in Uijeongbu Gap and son of National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, will run as an independent candidate in the April 15 general election.

On the 16th, a Uijeongbu City Hall official said, "Around 12 o'clock, a press conference application was submitted under Moon Seok-gyun's name for the 17th," adding, "About 20 people are expected to hold the press conference together." It is known that he submitted his resignation from the Democratic Party earlier that morning.

Former Vice Chairman Moon had been preparing to run in the Uijeongbu Gap district but gave up his candidacy in January amid controversy over 'hereditary nomination.' Subsequently, the Democratic Party strategically nominated Oh Young-hwan, a former firefighter and a new talent recruit for the general election, in this district. Moon is expected to explain his reasons for running as an independent at the press conference on the 17th.

This is the second case of a person who was either excluded from nomination (cut off) or lost in the primary within the Democratic Party declaring an independent candidacy, following Min Byung-doo, Democratic Party member for Dongdaemun Eul. Min stated on his Facebook the day before, "I agree with the Democratic Party's intention to nurture young politicians, but even if I help the youth with a spirit of putting the party before myself, the conditions are too difficult to perform a miracle," adding, "I will create a one-on-one contest with the United Future Party candidate and win."

Meanwhile, controversy arose when local councilors affiliated with the Democratic Party did not attend the press conference held by candidate Oh at Uijeongbu City Hall on the 11th.

Jang Kyung-tae, head of the Democratic Party Youth Committee and a preliminary candidate for Dongdaemun Eul, held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, criticizing, "Former Vice Chairman Moon is mobilizing the organization to ostracize candidate Oh Young-hwan." He also pointed out, "Candidate Moon Seok-gyun is committing political violence close to mobbing against candidate Oh Young-hwan, who was nominated by the party's decision."

In this regard, Ahn Byung-yong, mayor of Uijeongbu, criticized candidate Oh in a post on his Facebook on the 12th, saying, "A young candidate whom I have never met unilaterally summoned the party's city and provincial councilors during the session and threatened them by text message that non-attendance would be considered a hostile act."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.