[6.3 Election] Muan Candidates Na Kwangguk, Ryu Chun-o, and Choi Oksu Urge Kim San to Step Down

Allegations of violations of the Public Official Election Act surrounding the Muangun County Mayor election in South Jeolla Province are spreading, heightening tensions in the local political scene.

On April 24, Na Kwangguk, Ryu Chun-o, and Choi Oksu, preliminary candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea for Muangun County Mayor, held a joint press conference in the briefing room of the South Jeolla Provincial Council, calling for the resignation of Kim San, the Democratic Party’s Muangun County Mayor candidate.

On the 24th, Choi Oksu, Na Kwangguk, and Ryu Chuno (from left) held a press conference urging Kim San, the Democratic Party candidate for the Moan County governor, to withdraw. Photo by Seunghyun Jung

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They argued, “Allegations of violations of the Public Official Election Act and the controversy over the misuse of official authority during the election have seriously undermined the trust of the residents,” adding, “An immediate resignation is necessary.”

They especially emphasized that, as of the previous day, the police had conducted a search and seizure of the Muangun County Mayor’s office, related departments, and mobile phones, stating, “The matter has moved beyond mere suspicion and has entered the stage of a criminal case involving a compulsory investigation.”

The controversy began with Kim’s candidacy announcement press conference held at the Muangun County Office on March 31. During the event, suspicions were raised that some civil servants, village leaders, and supporters attended and voiced their support, which led to allegations of premature electioneering.

The three candidates criticized, “This is effectively premature electioneering using the incumbent mayor’s position,” and added, “If political activities took place in a public office building, it constitutes a serious violation of the political neutrality of public officials and the principle of fair elections.”

They also pointed out that, “The delayed initial response from the Muangun Election Commission has further fueled the controversy.”

Na Kwangguk’s campaign commented, “Residents are questioning whether these controversies affected the divergent results between the party member vote and the general public opinion poll,” and insisted, “The investigative authorities must thoroughly uncover the truth without any external pressure.”

In response, Kim San’s camp reportedly stated, “The event in question was a normal press conference for the candidacy announcement.”

The police are currently verifying the facts by analyzing the seized materials, and the investigation’s outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the election landscape.

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