[6.3 Election] Cho Kuk Innovation Party Faces Internal Strife Over Sinan County Nomination

Preliminary Candidates Urge Withdrawal of Sole Nomination
and Demand a Fair Primary

Internal conflict is surfacing within the Cho Kuk Innovation Party over the nomination process for the Sinan County Governor candidate.

Preliminary candidates Jeong Gwangho and Go Bongki held a press conference in the briefing room of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council on the 27th, urging the central party to withdraw its decision to grant a sole nomination and to immediately conduct a fair primary.

On the 27th, Goh Bonggi and Jung Kwangho, preliminary candidates, held a press conference at the Jeonnam Provincial Council raising issues related to the single nomination of Cho Guk for Shinan County Governor (from left). Photo by Jung Seunghyun

They claimed, "The originally announced three-person primary was overturned without any explanation, resulting in a sole nomination," asserting that "the rights of party members have been undermined."

They also raised procedural concerns, stating, "During the primary preparation process, we were guided with the premise that rights-holding party members would participate, but this was later retracted as a ‘misdelivery’ and no specific schedule was provided."

They continued, "While preparing for the primary, we confirmed the sole nomination through the central party’s website," emphasizing that "the candidate was finalized without a fair primary process."

Previously, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party had nominated preliminary candidate Kim Taeseong as the sole candidate through its Public Office Candidate Recommendation Management Committee.

Jeong Gwangho and Go Bongki criticized, "The criteria and resolutions of the nomination process should be made public," and added, "A political party has a responsibility to explain itself to its members and the public."

They also revealed that they had sent an official letter to the leadership of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party requesting a resolution to the issue, but had not received any significant response so far.

They pointed out, "Sinan County residents have expected candidate selection through a primary and unity through acceptance of the results," adding, "A sole nomination is a decision that gives up on the opportunity for verification and harmony."

Furthermore, they stressed that "a nomination without a primary could lead to internal divisions and regional conflict," emphasizing that "what is needed now is unity and trust, not division."

The two candidates formally demanded: ▲ withdrawal of the sole nomination, ▲ full disclosure of the nomination process, and ▲ conduct of a primary with the participation of rights-holding party members.

Meanwhile, as controversy over the nomination method and procedures of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party spreads, there are concerns that this could affect the landscape of the Sinan County Governor election.

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