Hwang Insik, Yoo Jeonghyun, Jo Sohyeon, No Taewook, and Others Repeatedly Demand Primary Election for Seocho District Mayor Candidates

People Power Party Seocho-gu Mayor Candidates No Tae-wook, Yoo Jeong-hyun, Jo So-hyun, Hwang In-sik Hold Press Conference at 10 AM on the 3rd in Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, Firmly Opposing Single Candidate and Repeatedly Demanding Primary Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the morning of the 3rd at 10 a.m., the four preliminary candidates for the People Power Party's Seocho District Mayor?No Tae-wook, Yoo Jeong-hyun, Jo So-hyun, and Hwang In-sik?held a press conference at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, firmly opposing the single candidate nomination and demanding a primary election.

These four candidates and their supporters stated, "The People Power Party's single candidate recommendation for Seocho District Mayor is essentially an appointment system and fundamentally denies the local autonomy system, so we resolutely oppose the single candidate recommendation," and emphasized, "We strongly demand that the selection of the Seocho District Mayor candidate in the local elections, which is the first sign of the People Power Party and President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's philosophy of fairness, common sense, and national unity, be conducted immediately through a fair primary election."

The four argued, "What is local autonomy? It is to elect the desired local worker by the choice of residents and, centered on that person, to improve policies suitable for the region and the welfare of residents together with the local community. However, the current handling of the Seocho District Mayor candidate nomination completely damages the philosophy and ideology of local autonomy, which is the foundation of grassroots democracy. It is said that a person who has no connection to Seocho District, not even for a single day, and whose name is unknown, is being nominated as a single candidate simply because of ties with powerful figures."

Below is the press release opposing the single candidate recommendation for Seocho District Mayor and demanding a primary election.

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We will never tolerate attempts to wither the seeds of local autonomy.

- Are you really that afraid of a primary? -

What is local autonomy? It is to elect the desired local worker by the choice of residents and, centered on that person, to improve policies suitable for the region and the welfare of residents together with the local community. However, the current handling of the Seocho District Mayor candidate nomination completely damages the philosophy and ideology of local autonomy, which is the foundation of grassroots democracy. It is said that a person who has no connection to Seocho District, not even for a single day, and whose name is unknown, is being nominated as a single candidate simply because of ties with powerful figures.

Moreover, that candidate is boasting about receiving the single nomination and handing out business cards. Who exactly chose him? Has he ever asked the local residents even once? Where should we find the legitimacy that we commonly talk about? Truly, what is happening now in Seocho District is lamentable. The local government head election can never be a spoil of the presidential election.

In Seocho, there is a saying that if the People Power Party candidate is nominated, even a stick will be elected, meaning "nomination equals election." If one thinks it is acceptable to manipulate the district mayor according to the tastes of the powerful for that reason, it is arrogance and pride. The central power was given through the presidential election, not the local government head candidate being elected through the presidential election. Residents should be allowed to elect the local worker for their area.

In other words, the People Power Party's single nomination for Seocho District Mayor is a rejection of the local autonomy system and democracy and a mere return to an authoritarian appointment system. They argue it was the same in the past. We cannot help but ask if the ancien r?gime was so good. Since the People Power Party's nomination is very close to winning, the single nomination is no different from the king appointing county governors and magistrates in the Joseon Dynasty.

The single nomination is not chosen by local residents. Even going through an intra-party primary can somewhat compensate for the imbalance in the Seocho election landscape, where the People Power Party candidate is almost guaranteed to win, and guarantee residents' right to choose.

According to media reports, the nomination management committee recommended Candidate A as the single candidate to the Supreme Council. There is no reason to recommend him as the single candidate. He has never performed Seocho District administration even for a day, nor has he ever had an address in Seocho for a single day. Seocho residents cannot accept why Candidate A was recommended as the single candidate. The central party and the Seoul City Party nomination management committee must clarify the criteria and reasons why he should be recommended as the single candidate. Why is a primary held in Gangnam, which has similar local conditions, but Seocho has a single nomination? We believe it is because Candidate A is not confident he would win a fair primary. All candidates here did their best during the presidential election period for Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's victory.

On the contrary, Candidate A has a major flaw: despite being informed by the direct supervisor of a female employee about a sexual harassment incident committed by a section chief-level official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety during a business trip to Germany, he covered up the incident. It is an absurd act that cannot be believed as the behavior of a person responsible for the Incheon city government, second only to the mayor.

Quoting yesterday's media article: "According to People Power Party officials, Candidate A was unaware of the sexual harassment incident at the time," but this is a clear lie. In an interview with Incheon local media, it was confirmed that he was informed of the sexual harassment incident during the Germany trip, and he made an outdated and unreasonable statement that no personnel action was taken against the perpetrator, a section chief, supposedly to protect the victim. The perpetrator official is suspected of committing several other harassment acts after the incident. We cannot help but ask how shameless and irresponsible such behavior is. This person wants to take charge of Seocho District Mayor and become the top manager of Seocho District Office, where more than half of the 1,600 employees are female staff. This will never be accepted under any circumstances. It is a rude and shameless act with no respect for Seocho residents.

We cannot help but publicly ask what Seocho residents are considered to be. The four preliminary candidates for Seocho District Mayor?No Tae-wook, Yoo Jeong-hyun, Jo So-hyun, and Hwang In-sik?respecting the will of 430,000 Seocho residents, demand the following from the People Power Party.

1. The People Power Party's single candidate recommendation for Seocho District Mayor is essentially an appointment system and fundamentally denies the local autonomy system, so we resolutely oppose the single candidate recommendation.

2. We strongly demand that the selection of the Seocho District Mayor candidate in the local elections, which is the first sign of the People Power Party and President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's philosophy of fairness, common sense, and national unity, be conducted immediately through a fair primary election.

3. Contrary to the initial media report that no personnel action was taken and the sexual harassment was covered up due to secondary victimization controversy, we cannot accept Candidate A's explanation to the nomination management committee that he was not informed of the incident, and strongly demand a clear response.

4. The nomination management committee and the Supreme Council must clearly recognize that Seocho residents will never accept a single nomination and have the right to choose the Seocho District Mayor candidate through a fair primary election.

2022.05.03.

Seocho District Mayor Preliminary Candidates

No Tae-wook, Yoo Jeong-hyun, Jo So-hyun, Hwang In-sik