"'Nomination Ineligibility' Protested by Kim Seong-tae: 'Result Created by the Core Faction'... Direct Hit at Lee Cheol-gyu"

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Former floor leader Kim Seong-tae of the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), who was judged 'ineligible' for the People Power Party's April 10 general election nomination, claimed on the 7th, "This disastrous result is the outcome created by so-called 'haekgwan' (key insiders) who have spread like cancer within our party and around the president."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Kim said, "If falling into the trap of political retaliation is a reason for nomination ineligibility, does that mean that 'haekgwan' who are former members of the Samcheong Education Center are a reason for nomination eligibility?"

Kim, who was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence by the Supreme Court on bribery charges and later pardoned and reinstated, was judged ineligible according to the nomination management committee's policy to exclude those who have received a suspended sentence or higher for bribery-related crimes from nomination, even if pardoned and reinstated.

Kim claimed that this nomination committee policy was designed by 'haekgwan,' specifically pointing to Representative Park Seong-min and nomination committee member Representative Lee Cheol-gyu.

At the press conference, Kim said, "People who claim to be close aides of the president, including Representative Park Seong-min, have already created a general election framework to suit their tastes and even designed regional nominations themselves."

He added, "The special provision that excludes from nomination those pardoned and reinstated by the president's constitutional authority was not originally included in the nomination committee's plan. It was proposed and reflected by someone claiming to be a presidential aide within the nomination committee."

When asked if Representative Lee Cheol-gyu was the 'haekgwan' within the nomination committee, he replied, "I will not deny it."

Kim also accused Representative Park Dae-su, who applied for nomination in Kim's former constituency of Gangseo-eul, Seoul, as an "ungrateful junior from the labor union," and claimed, "There is someone who said they received a call stating that through a key person in the nomination committee, Representative Park Seong-min said, 'Cut off Kim Seong-tae and nominate Park Dae-su in Gangseo-eul.'"

He said, "Under the guise of a system nomination, a targeted customized nomination system has been designed," and requested the party to "explain the so-called 'rigged nomination planning theory' circulating around and reveal the whole truth."

Kim emphasized, "I am not a 'recruitment corruption criminal.' I swear to heaven that I did not make any improper requests."

He urged, "If there is a more competitive alternative than Kim Seong-tae in the Gangseo area of Seoul, please reveal it. This nomination is unacceptable. My political decision depends on our party. I hope they answer my questions."

In response, Representative Lee Cheol-gyu met with reporters at the Yeouido Central Party Office and retorted, "A senior party member who served as floor leader should be careful about what to say and what not to say. Tell him to watch his words. How can someone in a responsible position speak so recklessly? We should not have a free-for-all of words."

Lee said, "The regulation regarding pardoned and reinstated persons was a standard already established by the general election planning team, independent of the nomination committee. Shouldn't we be different from the Democratic Party? Although he may feel hurt, he should accept reality instead of blaming others," he asked.

He added, "While managing nominations, one person like Kim Seong-tae cannot be the standard, nor was the regulation made thinking of one person. It was made based on the public's expectations. If he has something to say, tell him to say it directly," he concluded.

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