Kim Taesung, Shinan County Governor Pre-candidate, Announces Departure from Democratic Party

"Arbitrary Nominations... I Will Change Politics in Shinan"

On the 19th, Kim Taesung, the prospective candidate for Shinan County Governor, held a press conference at the Jeonnam Provincial Council and officially declared his departure from the Democratic Party. Photo by Seunghyun Jung

Kim Taesung, a pre-candidate for Shinan County Governor in Jeollanam-do, has strongly criticized the fairness of the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination process as he announced his departure from the party.

On March 19, Kim held a press conference at the Jeonnam Provincial Council, stating, "I joined the Democratic Party of Korea believing it was a party that stood for ordinary citizens and the disadvantaged, but the recent controversy over the 'arbitrary screening process' in the local election nominations has shown that fairness and principles have collapsed." He officially declared his withdrawal from the party.

Kim particularly pointed out that in the nomination process for the Honam region, the lack of clear standards and incomprehensible outcomes have greatly undermined the trust of local residents. He added, "The high-handed attitude of the central party, its unilateral decision-making structure, and the breakdown in communication are serious problems that ignore the voices of party members," and criticized, "Even within a party that speaks of democracy, democratic procedures are falling apart."

Explaining the background of his joining the Democratic Party of Korea in November 2021, Kim said, "During the 20th presidential election, I sympathized with the political philosophy of Lee Jaemyung, who stood for the disadvantaged as a civic activist, which led me to enter politics after honorably leaving the military." He also revealed that, as a party member, he participated in activities to investigate the truth behind the insurrection under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and engaged in efforts to defend democracy.

At the press conference, Kim emphasized the sovereignty of Shinan residents and delivered a clear political message. He stated, "Although the people of Shinan account for less than 0.1% of Korea's population, they are not subjects to be exploited by politics but sovereign citizens who deserve respect," adding, "I will not participate in politics that lines up for power, divisive politics, or politics that serve vested interests."

He continued, "I will not rely on large political powers, but trust in the greatest strength, which is the people of Shinan," and declared, "I will fight to the end to set politics in Shinan straight and to realize justice in accordance with the will of the residents."

Kim also mentioned his future political direction. He plans to carry forward and develop the policies of the 7th and 8th popularly elected administrations with a focus on increasing residents' income, expanding public participation, and ensuring sustainability. He also intends to promote the improvement of production and distribution structures and expand exports in the ornamental tree industry to revitalize the local economy.

In response to a reporter's question about possibly running as a candidate for another party, he stated, "I will decide according to the will of the residents," leaving his future political path open.

Meanwhile, during the Q&A session with reporters, Kim explained the background of his departure from the party, local issues, and his policy direction, expressing his commitment to actively engage with the media.

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