Gangjin County Council Chair Kim Bomi and National Assembly Member Kim Seungnam 'Accuse Youth Political Oppression'... Urge Democratic Party Reform

Queueing Controversy and Youth Political Suppression Cast Red Light on General Election Campaign

Political Retaliation Begins with Refusal of Close Escort and Personnel Mobilization Requests

Kim Bomi, Chairperson of the Gangjin County Council, appealed to Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, through a Facebook post on the 4th, denouncing the local assembly member lineup and old-fashioned retaliatory politics by Kim Seung-nam, the National Assembly member representing the districts of Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, and Gangjin, and urged the Democratic Party to take strict measures.

Chairperson Kim Bomi stated, “On the 25th of last month at 11:40 a.m., we held a press conference at the National Assembly, attended by Oh Hyun-sik, Chairperson of the National Council of Local Assembly Members of the Democratic Party, Lee Hyun-taek, Youth Committee Chair of the Jeonnam Provincial Party, and young party members from Gangjin County, who had agreed to unite in purpose, but it was canceled due to Kim Seung-nam’s all-out obstruction,” adding, “He ignored the reality faced by the youth and suppressed their voices so they could not even speak out,” expressing indignation.

Earlier, on the 17th of last month, Kim Seung-nam issued a press release stating that he would take legal action against the Democratic Party youth members who condemned the no-confidence motion against Chairperson Kim Bomi.

Chairperson Kim Bo-min held a "Press Conference to Announce a Statement on the Unfairness of the No-Confidence Resolution and Condemn Political Oppression" on the 16th of last month, attended by young Democratic Party members from Gangjin. They issued a statement condemning the five Democratic Party lawmakers who proposed the resolution.
[Photo by Gangjin County Council]

The youth party members had said that “until the no-confidence motion was proposed, there was consistent neglect, failing to fulfill responsibilities as the local committee chair,” which Kim Seung-nam considered spreading false information and thus threatened strong legal action.

In response, Chairperson Kim Bomi said, “The people of Gangjin County and the young party members protected my political life, which was almost ended by political intrigue. Today, I stand here risking my political life to protect the youth party members.”

She continued, “Kim Seung-nam’s old-fashioned politics of lining up local assembly members and the resulting political retaliation began when I did not comply with his demands for escort and mobilization of personnel during local visits or party events,” and lamented, “I was excluded at party events, and the bullying, ostracism, and insults from fellow county council members worsened.”

Furthermore, she revealed incidents such as Kim Seung-nam demanding close escort and loyalty, blocking the National Assembly Speaker’s commendation award midway, and threatening not to give the award because she did not attend his constituency report meeting, which led her to give up on receiving it.

Meanwhile, Kim Seung-nam denied responsibility by claiming that the no-confidence motion was independently carried out by some Gangjin county council members without his consultation after it was withdrawn, and stated that he had strongly demanded the withdrawal of the no-confidence motion to resolve the situation.

In response, Chairperson Kim Bomi questioned, “It is a confession of incompetence as a local committee chair that he was unaware of such a serious matter of ousting a local chairperson from the Democratic Party,” and asked, “Is it not a truthful confession that he tolerated the proposal of the no-confidence motion despite being able to control the county council members?”

She also expressed deep regret, saying, “Many media outlets and prospective candidates criticized Kim Seung-nam’s wrongful political behavior, but he remained silent and took no action against those with power, while threatening legal action only against powerless local youth party members, forcing them into silence.”

Finally, she appealed, “The party is divided and conflicted due to the old-fashioned politics of lining up members. The voices condemning this started in Gangjin, Jeonnam, were joined by the youth of Jeonnam, and now youth party members nationwide are raising their voices together,” adding, “If the rotten parts of Honam are not cleanly cut out through reform, the blue wave of April may turn into stagnant water. I hope the Democratic Party’s innovation, the virtuous youth party members of Honam, and the sprouts of new youth politics will be protected.”

Meanwhile, as various controversies such as lining up members and youth political suppression accumulate, it is expected that the future course of Kim Seung-nam, who has announced his intention to run in the April 10 general election, will inevitably face obstacles.

At a time when the attention of youth party members and the public nationwide is focused, it remains to be seen whether the Democratic Party’s self-purification ability will function.

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