Democratic Party Gwangju Nam-gu Basic Councilor Preliminary Candidates "Request Re-nomination Through Primary Election"

Press Conference Condemning the Revival of Old-Style Politics: "Nominee Lists Circulating for Days"

On the 2nd, preliminary candidates for the Gwangju Metropolitan City Nam-gu district council who missed the Democratic Party's nomination held a press conference in front of the Democratic Party Gwangju City Party office, stating, "We condemn the revival of old-fashioned politics revealed in the local election nominations."

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Preliminary candidates for the Nam-gu district council in Gwangju Metropolitan City who missed the Democratic Party's nomination have claimed that the nomination process was unfair and demanded a re-nomination through a primary election.

Nam Gwang-in, Lee Byung-cheol, Lee Ui-seon, Jo Mi-ae, Ha Seong-cheon, and Han Jun-su, preliminary candidates for the Nam-gu council's first electoral district, held a press conference at the Democratic Party's Gwangju City branch on the 2nd, stating, "We condemn the revival of old-fashioned politics revealed in the local election nominations."

They said, "This local election is one to make up for the defeat in the last presidential election and to respond to the residents' demand for peaceful and stable local politics," adding, "However, looking at the current nomination process, it is going in the exact opposite direction, which is regrettable."

They continued, "Even in Gwangju and Jeonnam, the Democratic Party's strongholds, nomination controversies have not ceased," and "Looking at the list of nominees for the Nam-gu council's first electoral district announced on the 30th, these suspicions become even more certain."

They pointed out two problems in the nomination process.

First, "Candidates who abandoned political loyalty and engaged in political collusion by supporting specific candidates in the last National Assembly election and candidates with weak competitiveness were nominated," and "Candidates who remained loyal to the party, residents, and local committee chairmen until the end were excluded and not even allowed to participate in the primary, which is incomprehensible."

Additionally, "Who would protect the party by sacrificing themselves and their surroundings with political loyalty in all subsequent elections and local activities?" they questioned, emphasizing, "Especially, the local committee chairman has the duty to be responsible for democracy and political development in our Gwangju Nam-gu."

They also stressed, "Instead of fulfilling this heavy responsibility, the local committee chairman is following so-called codes or secretly colluding with factions united for other reasons to protect their vested interests, causing old-fashioned politics to revive, which worries Nam-gu party members and residents."

Second, "A few days ago, a certain person listed preliminary candidates likely to be nominated like a rumor and hinted at signs of secret nominations, but it was dismissed as a rumor," they said, "However, looking at the current nominees, the preliminary candidates mentioned at that time were consecutively nominated."

They added, "There is widespread rumor among residents that these candidates confidently acted after receiving prior nomination approval from the local committee chairman," explaining, "This is also confirmed by the outdated behavior of responsible politicians in our area."

They stated, "The low-level collusion among the local committee chairman, their close associates, and candidates who sympathized and collaborated is seriously damaging the development of Gwangju, the Democratic Party, and democracy, and there is widespread ridicule and political satire among party members and residents," lamenting, "This is an act of betrayal against residents who desire democracy and regional development, done solely to protect vested interests."

They concluded, "Although this election may be a tilted playing field, we will not engage in unprincipled actions such as running as independents after leaving the party or rejecting the primary results," and appealed, "Please fully understand the sincere desire and concerns of Nam-gu residents for great harmony and regional development, and allow nominations through a primary election in this nomination process."

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