Mokpo Democratic Party Incumbent City and Provincial Councilors Excluded from Nomination... 'Each for Themselves' Movement

Kim Osu, Kim Hyuhwan, and Lee Geumi City Council Members Request Reconsideration... Kim Geunjae Runs as Independent, Kim Sumi Withdraws

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Incumbent Democratic Party city councilors of Mokpo City, Jeonnam, have been consecutively excluded from the June 1 local election nominations, causing a stir in the local election scene.

According to the Democratic Party on the 14th, the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Party Public Office Candidate Recommendation Management Committee notified by text message on the 13th the exclusion from nomination to city councilors Kim Osu, Kim Geunjae, Kim Sumi, Lee Geumi, who were seeking re-election, and city councilor Kim Hyuhwan, who was planning to run for provincial councilor.

In response to this decision, councilors Kim Osu, Kim Hyuhwan, and Lee Geumi filed for reconsideration on the same day, while councilor Kim Geunjae decided to run as an independent, and councilor Kim Sumi decided to withdraw from the race.

City councilor Kim Osu said in a phone interview with this paper, "It is very frustrating to receive only a decision text without any explanation regarding the exclusion from nomination," and added, "I hope that the efforts devoted to regional development as a member of the party will be objectively evaluated."

Prior to this exclusion from nomination in the Mokpo area, former Mokpo Mayor Park Hongryul, who was accused of sexual harassment against women, was expelled from the party, and strong measures were taken, including filing a complaint against Democratic Party Emergency Committee Chairman Yoon Hojung and requesting reconsideration.

As a result of thorough verification and screening of 406 basic councilor candidates in Jeonnam by the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Party Public Office Candidate Recommendation Committee, 25 candidates, including 13 incumbent basic councilors, were excluded from nomination.