"Backing a Specific Candidate"... Controversy in Gwangju Metropolitan Council Primary

Democratic Party Seo-gu Gap District Committee, Unfairness Controversy... "Appealed for Support" vs "Did Not"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Ahead of the June 1 nationwide local elections, allegations of unfairness have been raised during the Democratic Party of Korea's Gwangju Metropolitan City Council primary election process.

Jang Jae-seong, a preliminary candidate for the Gwangju City Council Seo-gu District 1, raised suspicions by claiming that "the local committee is backing a specific candidate," while the opposing side has dismissed this as "groundless."

On the 11th, candidate Jang stated, "The Democratic Party Seo-gu (Gap) local committee has no intention of conducting a fair election in reality, and unfair cases have occurred."

It is alleged that an official A from the Seo-gu (Gap) local committee met with heads of neighborhood councils near the local committee office restaurant on the 5th and solicited support for preliminary candidate B, who is running in the same district.

Candidate Jang claimed, "Mr. A invited the heads of each neighborhood council to the office, then moved to a nearby restaurant accompanied by preliminary candidate B, where he asked for support for the candidate during the meal."

Regarding this, Mr. A explained, "It is true that I had a meal with the heads of each neighborhood council," and added, "Preliminary candidate B happened to be nearby, so he just joined us."

He further explained, "I only made customary polite remarks and did not request support," and questioned, "How could I possibly support just one candidate in a reasonable manner?"