Democratic Party Gwangju Branch Initiates Disciplinary Procedures Against Seo-gu Councilors for "Violating Party Policy"

Ethics Committee Meeting on the 22nd... Likely to Identify Lawmakers Who Voted for Chairman Kim Taeyoung

"Anonymous Voting in Grassroots Democracy, Excessive Punishment for Party Intervention," Critics Say

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Party of the Democratic Party of Korea is initiating disciplinary procedures against the Democratic Party members of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council who violated the party's official stance (party resolution) and were referred to the Ethics Tribunal.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan City Party of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 21st, the Ethics Tribunal will be held on the afternoon of the 22nd regarding the council members who ran for the chairperson election of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council on the 2nd against the party resolution and those who voted for them.

The Ethics Tribunal members, composed of legal experts and others, are expected to listen to the explanations of the concerned council members on that day and then decide the level of disciplinary action after discussion.

The Seo-gu Council currently consists of a total of 13 members: 9 from the Democratic Party, 1 from the Minsheng Party, 1 from the Progressive Party, and 2 independents.

In the recent second half chairperson election, Councilor Kim Taeyoung defeated Councilor Oh Gwanggyo by 8 to 5 and was finally elected.

Assuming that all four non-Democratic Party members chose Councilor Kim, it can be concluded that among the Democratic Party members excluding Kim, three did not support Councilor Oh, who was the candidate through the party resolution.

Therefore, it is expected that at least four of the nine Democratic Party Seo-gu council members, including Councilor Kim, will be disciplined by the Ethics Tribunal.

Chairperson Kim Taeyoung is likely to receive the heaviest punishment, 'expulsion,' while the other members' disciplinary measures will be decided after their explanations and the Ethics Tribunal's discussions.

However, some argue that since the chairperson election is a secret ballot among council members, identifying and disciplining members for their votes is an abuse of party power that undermines the foundation of grassroots democracy.

It is claimed that Councilor Kim Taeyoung becoming chairperson was a result of democracy made by 'conviction.'

After the Seo-gu Council chairperson election, Participation Autonomy 21 issued a press release stating, "The Democratic Party's attempt to monopolize the second half of the basic council's organization has been abruptly halted," and praised it as "a rebellion of conviction and solidarity that showed what grassroots democracy is."

On the other hand, the Democratic Party Gwangju City Party strongly insists that those who violated the party resolution, which they had signed in agreement with proper regulations, and acted unilaterally, as well as those who supported such actions, should be regarded as having committed the corresponding acts.

A representative of the Democratic Party Gwangju City Party said, "It is unacceptable in party politics for someone who signed the party resolution to act unilaterally because they are dissatisfied with the internal primary results, and for others to vote for that person," adding, "A similar incident occurred in the first half chairperson election, and if the party does not take action this time either, it will show a lack of understanding of the weight of signing the pledge."

Meanwhile, earlier, the Gwangju City Party and council members established a party resolution that the candidate for the second half chairperson should be a council member from the Seo-gu Gap district who has been re-elected at least once and has not held positions such as vice-chairperson or standing committee chairperson in the first half. All Democratic Party members agreed and signed this resolution.

The council members who met these conditions were Councilors Kang Intaek and Oh Gwanggyo.

As a result of a vote by five Democratic Party Seo-gu Gap district council members, Oh Gwanggyo was selected as the chairperson candidate by a 3:2 margin over Kang Intaek.

Accordingly, Oh Gwanggyo was set to compete with Minsheng Party Councilor Kim Oksu for the chairperson position, but Councilor Kim Taeyoung, opposing this, registered as an additional chairperson candidate.

In the chairperson election on the 2nd, Councilors Kim Taeyoung, Oh Gwanggyo (Democratic Party), and Kim Oksu (Minsheng Party) competed, with Kim Taeyoung receiving 6 votes, Oh Gwanggyo 5 votes, and Kim Oksu 2 votes. Since no candidate received a majority out of 13 members present, a runoff between the top two was held, resulting in Kim Taeyoung winning 8 to 5 and being elected chairperson.

The Democratic Party Gwangju City Party referred all Democratic Party Seo-gu council members, including Kim Taeyoung, to the Ethics Tribunal for violating the party resolution.

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