The Verification Committee with the Democratic Party postpones judgment on Kim Eui-gyeom again... Lee Nak-yeon and Hwang Un-ha deemed 'qualified'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Kang Nahum and Jeon Jinyoung] On the 28th, the Democratic Party of Korea once again failed to reach a conclusion on the eligibility of former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom as a preliminary candidate and decided to continue the review. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, who declared his candidacy for Seoul Jongno, was deemed eligible.

Jin Seong-jun, former lawmaker and secretary member of the Democratic Party's Public Office Candidate Verification Committee, held a briefing at the National Assembly on the same day and stated, "At the 15th meeting today, we reviewed nine candidates under continuous review from the first to fourth rounds of applications for which no conclusion had been reached."

Regarding former spokesperson Kim, who was involved in a controversy over real estate speculation, Jin said, "The on-site investigation subcommittee under the verification committee has conducted field inspections, met with the applicants directly to hear explanations, and carried out direct investigations of related parties. Additional matters requiring confirmation arose again today, so the on-site investigation subcommittee will investigate these and report at the next meeting, after which further discussion will take place."

On the eligibility decision for former Prime Minister Lee, Jin explained, "Although he was not among the applicants from the first to fourth rounds, he was exceptionally included in the review because his candidacy for Jongno was confirmed by the party's recommendation, and he was deemed eligible."

Additionally, former Ulsan Police Chief Hwang Unha, who was involved in allegations of Ulsan covert investigations, was deemed eligible, while former Ulsan City Deputy Mayor Song Byung-gi, also implicated in the same allegations, had his judgment deferred due to the need for further verification amid ongoing investigations.

Thus, the total number of preliminary candidates deemed eligible on this day was three, including former Prime Minister Lee and former Police Chief Hwang. Two candidates were judged ineligible, and two candidates were respectively requested for detailed review by the nomination management committee and continued review by the verification committee.

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, who was embroiled in a Me Too controversy, did not apply for verification with the committee and was excluded from the review on this day. Jin said, "Jeong is under the verification subcommittee of the nomination management committee, and I think he will be verified there."