Request for Explanation Just Before Candidate Interview... Suspicions of Specific Faction Involvement Intensify
[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hangyu] The Democratic Party's Jangseong County Governor candidate Yoo Doo-seok's request for a retrial was not accepted by the Central Party's Retrial Committee. However, it has been pointed out that the disciplinary orders from the Ethics Inspection Team and the retrial discussion process blatantly exposed suspicions of interference by certain factions and unprincipled candidate screening.
Yoo's camp applied for a retrial on the 14th, arguing that the Central Party Ethics Inspection Team's disciplinary action regarding the incident where an employee was forced to paint with yellow paint was legally misinterpreted. A lawyer in Gwangju pointed out that the National Human Rights Commission's recommendation for compensation, as a consensus body, is invalid from the start because the police, as part of the judicial system, issued a non-prosecution decision stating that the county governor was not within the scope of official duties.
However, the Retrial Committee dismissed Yoo's retrial request on the 18th.
A Democratic Party official stated, "Considering that individuals with personal corruption records and those subject to investigation and trial passed the screening, the decisions by the Ethics Inspection Team and the Retrial Committee regarding Yoo are completely incomprehensible."
Yoo's camp revealed that the Ethics Inspection Team's order to submit explanations was issued just three days before the Public Official Candidate Screening Committee's preliminary candidate screening, raising many doubts about the circumstances of demanding document submission without time to seek legal advice.
Yoo's camp said, "Supporters opposed the retrial, seeing it as an abnormal situation where rumors of disqualification from nomination since last year became reality, but we applied for it due to personal honor," adding, "We are seriously discussing future directions."
Meanwhile, with the Democratic Party Central Party's refusal of Yoo's retrial, attention is focused on Yoo's choice and whether he will run as an independent in the Jangseong County Governor election.
Yoo was elected as Jangseong County Governor as an independent in the 7th nationwide simultaneous local elections in 2018. He later rejoined the Democratic Party in 2020, citing county unity, and has been active since.
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hangyu chg6001@asiae.co.kr
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