Kim Kwan-young to Leave Bareunmirae Party Tomorrow... Running as Independent in Gunsan

by Lim Chunhan

Published 05 Feb.2020 11:02(KST)

Press Conference on Party Resignation at Gunsan City Hall at 11 AM on the 6th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Kim Kwan-young, a member of the Bareunmirae Party, will leave the party on the 6th. With Kim's departure, the Bareunmirae Party's number of seats will decrease from 19 to 18.

A staff member from Kim's office said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 5th, "There will be a press conference about leaving the party at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Gunsan City Hall," adding, "He will run as an independent candidate in the general election."

Kim played a significant role in the passage of the election law and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit during the fast-track legislative process. However, it is known that he decided to leave the party because Representative Sohn did not step down from his position even after former lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo returned to Korea.

Lee Chan-yeol, a close aide of Representative Sohn, also left the Bareunmirae Party the day before. In a press release that day, Lee stated, "I devoted myself entirely to the development of the party when I joined the People's Party, the predecessor of the Bareunmirae Party, three years ago. But now, it seems to have reached its limit," adding, "Today, I will leave the Bareunmirae Party and head into the frozen wilderness."

Representative Sohn dismissed Supreme Council members Joo Seung-yong and Kim Kwan-young, who refused to perform party duties, as well as Secretary-General Im Jae-hoon, Deputy Secretary-General Lee Haeng-ja, and Chief Secretary Jang Jin-young, and promptly appointed key party officials. At the Supreme Council meeting on the 5th, Sohn said regarding the replacement of appointed Supreme Council members and the Secretary-General, "There are now 70 days left until the general election. We must comprehensively reorganize the party system to prepare for the election, and normalizing party affairs is urgent," adding, "We can no longer continue in a situation where important matters cannot be resolved because the Supreme Council meetings are not held."