Aftermath of Democratic North Jeolla Governor Primary...Ahn Hoyoung Begins Hunger Strike Demanding "Reinspection of Lee Wantak"

Ahn Hoyoung, who lost to Assemblyman Lee Wantak in the Democratic Party of Korea primary for the North Jeolla Province Governor in the June 3 local elections, began a hunger strike on April 11, demanding a reinvestigation into allegations that Lee's meal expenses were paid by a third party.

Ahn Ho-young, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

On this day, Assemblyman Ahn held a press conference in front of the party headquarters in Yeouido and stated, "The residents of our province do not believe this primary was conducted fairly or justly," adding, "An immediate reinvestigation by the ethics inspection team is necessary, and the results should be reflected in a retrial."

Assemblyman Ahn referred to the case of Kim Kwanyoung, the Governor of North Jeolla Province, who was disqualified as a primary candidate due to allegations of cash handouts, saying, "In Kim's case, an on-site investigation was conducted before any decision was made, but in Lee's case, it is known that a conclusion of 'no charges' was reached without any on-site investigation."

Immediately after the press conference, Assemblyman Ahn set up a tent in front of the main building of the National Assembly and began his hunger strike. After losing to Lee in the two-person primary the previous day, Ahn filed a request for a retrial with the party headquarters.

Previously, on April 7, the Democratic Party of Korea ordered an emergency inspection after allegations surfaced about Lee's meal expenses being paid by a third party. However, after receiving a report from the ethics inspection team the next day that "no personal charges were found," the party proceeded with the primary as scheduled.

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