Gangwon Province Governor Cutoff: Kim Jin-tae's Hunger Strike Protest "Not Fair or Reasonable"

Lee Jun-seok Visit "Likely to Request Reconsideration at the Public Official Election Commission on the 18th"

Former lawmaker Jin-tae Kim (left) and Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Former lawmaker Kim Jin-tae, who was 'cut off' during the People Power Party's preliminary candidate selection process for the Gangwon Province governor, entered the second day of his hunger strike on the 16th. If the single nomination proposal for the Gangwon Province governor is submitted at the Supreme Council meeting on the 18th, it is expected that the People Power Party's nomination committee will request a reconsideration.

Kim began his hunger strike protest the day before, demanding the cancellation of the People Power Party's nomination management committee's decision.

In a statement, Kim said, "I am overwhelmingly leading in the opinion polls, but suddenly being cut off due to remarks made several years ago raises suspicion about the true intentions," and pointed out, "If that is the problem, how was I nominated in the April 15, 2020 general election?"

He continued, "In this presidential election, I was made to work hard as the chair of the Lee Jae-myung Corruption Verification Special Committee, and now that the election is won, am I being discarded like a used tool?" He criticized, "This is neither fairness nor common sense."

He said, "I am not simply asking for the nomination; only two candidates want to compete in the primary. Is that such an excessive demand?" and added, "I will continue this hunger strike here until that happens. I will do everything I can."

Late the previous night, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, visited the protest site and met with former lawmaker Kim. Kim requested Lee to "correct the principle-less and unfair nomination committee's cut-off."

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