[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Yeom Dong-yeol, a member of the United Future Party (re-elected, Gangwon Taebaek-si, Hoengseong-gun, Yeongwol-gun, Pyeongchang-gun, Jeongseon-gun), announced on the 26th that he will not run in the April 15 general election. Yeom was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial on charges of exerting pressure on Kangwon Land for recruitment.
On the same day, he held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall and said, "I want to step down as a candidate for my constituency."
Yeom stated that although he felt wronged by the first trial's decision to strip him of his parliamentary seat, he decided not to run to avoid burdening the party.
He emphasized, "Under the stigma of Kangwon Land recruitment corruption, I have endured a rigged investigation and numerous exaggerated media reports repeatedly, causing indescribable obsession and pain for myself and my family. The long trial process was difficult, but despite five acquittals, I had to endure each day with a sense of injustice over a single incomprehensible guilty verdict."
Yeom particularly said, "There was empathetic encouragement from fellow lawmakers who said that hiring local children is not a crime but a merit as a member of the National Assembly, but explaining this to other youths outside the mining area was complicated, and the ruling party maliciously used it for election strategy, making it difficult to defend the facts."
He added, "As the head of the Talent Recruitment Committee, gathering talents who determine the party's fate, it has long been a concern that I might become a burden to the party and the nomination management committee. Preventing damage to the party's great unity and innovation and leading by example are also reasons why I am stepping down from running."
Yeom concluded, "I am willing to devote my whole body to any task for the overwhelming victory of the 21st general election, putting the party before myself. Especially, I will fulfill my responsibilities until the day my role as head of the Talent Recruitment Committee is completed."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
