Justice Party to Hold National Committee Meeting on the 15th Afternoon to Assess Eligibility of Proportional Representation Candidates
Shin Jang-sik "All Have Already Provided Explanations... Difficult to Accept Disqualification of Candidates Solely Due to Media Raising Issues"
[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Shin Jang-sik, the 6th candidate on the Justice Party's proportional representation list, stated regarding his controversy over drunk driving and driving without a license that "everything has been clarified" and expressed that "it is difficult to accept the removal of candidacy just because the media raises issues." He also appealed, saying, "I worked as a essay instructor for immediate livelihood and drove without a license to meet class times," adding, "I was poor and immature."
On the 15th, Shin posted on his Facebook, "I am posting a brief statement ahead of the national committee meeting," and apologized, saying, "I bow my head in apology for one instance of drunk driving in 2006 and three instances of driving without a license between 2006 and 2007."
However, Shin emphasized, "I went through all the procedures required by the party, publicly disclosed and clarified my past mistakes multiple times, and was chosen by party members and the electorate through elections, so it is difficult to understand how to accept the removal of candidacy just because the media raises issues again."
He stressed, "As a party member, I followed all the party's procedures, regulations, and orders," and added, "There is absolutely no fact that I deceived the party or its members or concealed my mistakes." He continued, "I submitted materials according to the forms requested by the party's Public Office Candidate Qualification Review Committee and the Election Commission," and stated, "I truthfully recorded all details related to drunk driving and driving without a license and clarified and apologized according to the party's orders." He emphasized, "I will participate in today's national committee meeting to apologize, clarify, and discuss."
Shin also appealed that he was experiencing financial hardship at the time. He explained, "In 2006, I had stepped down from my position in the central party, my livelihood was very difficult, and I was also ill," adding, "I worked as an essay instructor for immediate livelihood and drove without a license to meet lecture times." He also said, "There were no personal or property damages, and I was stopped at official or temporary checkpoints," and added, "I was poor and immature. I still regret it now. I apologize once again."
Meanwhile, the Justice Party plans to hold a national committee meeting this afternoon to discuss the eligibility of Shin and Ryu Ho-jeong, the number 1 proportional representation candidate, among others.
Ryu was involved in a controversy over proportional representation eligibility after it was revealed that during her time at Ewha Womans University in 2014, she had someone else raise her rank in the online game 'League of Legends (LOL),' and recently, Hwang Hee-du, a former professional gamer and the Democratic Party's nomination management committee chairman, raised this issue.
Earlier, on the 6th, the Justice Party announced the results of the citizen electorate vote for proportional representation candidates and confirmed the nominations of Ryu and Shin. According to forecasts that the Justice Party will secure 9 proportional representation seats in this general election, both Ryu and Shin are considered to be in a safe winning zone.
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