[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Kim So-yeon, a lawyer affiliated with the People Power Party, declared her withdrawal from the party, stating, "I have no confidence in persuading voters as a candidate in a party trapped in the frame of being accused of sexual bribery."
In the withdrawal report submitted on the morning of the 7th, Lawyer Kim stated, "I have no confidence in persuading the public while bearing the frame and stigma of being accused of sexual bribery," and criticized "the party's problem of not taking even minimal measures against the party leader's misconduct involving sexual bribery."
Earlier, on the 6th, she announced her intention to run in the Seoul Seocho-gap by-election by posting on her Facebook, "I will leave the party tomorrow and run as an independent candidate for Seocho-gap."
She added, "Facing an opponent with four prior convictions and a presidential candidate alongside a party leader who received sexual favors, I will follow my own independent path," and "I have been appealing for support to join our party, but now I will trust the people and myself and stand alone. If I can shed the stigma of being accused of sexual bribery, I will return to the party and wear the badge then."
Furthermore, she said, "I believe there will be a harsh evaluation from public and party sentiment toward a party that cannot deal with a party leader who tarnishes the name of youth, using youth for political exploitation and intimidation of presidential candidates and party members," and likened her message to the party leader's words ("silk pouch"), once again targeting Leader Lee.
In another post on the same day, Lawyer Kim stated, "I have faithfully performed all roles assigned to me by the party, but for ten months, I had to watch the rampage of the factions led by Lee Jun-seok and Yoo Seung-min, and as a lawyer, I clearly opposed the 4+1 fast-track agreement including the Corruption Investigation Office Act to Leader Sohn Hak-kyu."
She explained, "Leader Sohn responded that he must keep faith with the Democratic Party, which agreed to the mixed-member proportional representation system, so I told him I could not remain in a party that agrees to unconstitutional legislation and withdrew."
Meanwhile, Lawyer Kim was elected as a Daejeon city council member (Seo-gu 6) in the 7th nationwide local elections in 2018 as a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, but was expelled after exposing a special party membership fee demand from a close aide of then-National Assembly member Park Beom-gye (59). She then joined the Bareunmirae Party in 2019 and served as youth spokesperson, and in 2020 moved to the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party.
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