People Power Party Decides No Candidacy for Former Lawmaker Kwak Sang-do's Daegu Jungnang-gu District (Update)

Kwon Young-se "Gwak Sang-do Resigned Due to Daejang-dong Investigation, No Nomination Ban Decided"
"No Decisions Made on Strategic Nominations in 4 Places Including Jongno"

Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, is adjusting his glasses after finishing his speech at the joint meeting between the campaign headquarters and the floor leadership held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party decided not to nominate a candidate for the by-election in Daegu Jung-nam District, which is being held due to the resignation of former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, in relation to the March 9 National Assembly by-elections. They decided to nominate a candidate for Seoul Seocho-gap.

Kwon Young-se, the People Power Party’s nomination committee chairman, held a press conference at the party headquarters on the same day to announce the nomination plans for the five constituencies in the National Assembly by-elections.

Chairman Kwon said, "In Daegu Jung-nam District, where the anger over the Daejang-dong corruption scandal?the largest corruption case since the founding of the nation, designed during Lee Jae-myung’s tenure as mayor of Seongnam?has not disappeared, and where the previous lawmaker of this area is under investigation for criminal charges related to involvement in Daejang-dong, we have decided not to nominate a candidate out of infinite responsibility as a political party and from a political standpoint." He expressed sincere regret to the citizens and party members who were preparing for election campaigns.

Regarding reporters’ questions about whether it is impossible to prevent candidates from running after leaving the party, he said, "There is realistically no way to prevent it," but added, "I hope party members understand the intention and focus on the presidential election campaign."

The Daegu Jung-nam District is the constituency of former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do. Former lawmaker Kwak resigned after it was revealed that his son was identified as a beneficiary of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development and that he received 5 billion won as severance pay from Hwacheon Daeyu. Recently, the prosecution re-requested a pre-arrest warrant for former lawmaker Kwak on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (mediation bribery), and the Political Funds Act.

The People Power Party decided to proceed with the nomination for Seocho-gap. Chairman Kwon said, "We decided to nominate according to principles," and added, "Seocho-gap is not related to any criminal acts, so we decided to nominate a candidate."

The Seocho-gap constituency was vacated by former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, who resigned after allegations of real estate speculation by her father surfaced. The police found that Yoon’s father violated the Farmland Act and the Resident Registration Act and sent the case to the prosecution, but former lawmaker Yoon was cleared of charges related to the Anti-Corruption Act.

Meanwhile, regarding the Seoul Jongno District, where strategic nomination is being discussed, Chairman Kwon said, "Nothing has been decided yet," and added, "The nomination review committee will deliberate and decide on the method of nominating candidates for the four constituencies."