Kim In-ho, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, 'Bold Decision'... "Contributed to Local Election Victory Despite Candidate Selection Issues"

Chairman Kim stated, "The primary election for the Dongdaemun District Mayor candidate was conducted under more unfair circumstances than ever," adding, "Nevertheless, rather than raising issues through a retrial, I will do my best with a spirit of putting the party first for victory in the June 1 local elections." He also pointed out grievances regarding the 20% deduction evaluation criteria for candidates.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, made a ‘bold decision.’

On the 5th, Chairman Kim stated, “This Dongdaemun District Mayor candidate selection primary was conducted under more unfair circumstances than ever before. Nevertheless, rather than raising issues through a rehearing, I will do my best with a spirit of putting the party’s victory in the June 1 local elections above all else.”

He claimed, “This primary was an ‘unfair election’ aimed at eliminating a specific individual.”

He cited a case where a candidate who participated in this primary stated, “Texts were sent from another specific competing candidate to relatives and acquaintances who joined the party supporting me,” and expressed the need to ascertain the truth about the leakage of the list of party members.

Regarding this, Chairman Kim said, “The leakage of the party member list is strictly prohibited under the Personal Information Protection Act and the Election Act,” and added, “If it is true that the party member list was leaked to a specific person, it is an unimaginable act akin to secretly giving exam answers to a student during a test.”

In particular, he criticized being ranked in the ‘bottom 20%.’ Chairman Kim said, “As Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, I contributed to administrative stability during the absence of Mayor Park Won-soon and the inauguration of Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and played a role in swiftly supporting the livelihoods of self-employed and small business owners affected by COVID-19 through the council. Despite this, being evaluated in the ‘bottom 20%’ is unfair,” and expressed grievance, saying, “Applying the 20% deduction criterion in the district mayor primary is also unfair.”

He also said he could not understand at all on what basis the ‘20% deduction’ was applied despite his outstanding achievements as Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and Chairman of the National Council of Governors, including personnel independence of the council secretariat and improvements to the local autonomy system.

Chairman Kim asserted, “I have witnessed numerous primary processes, but I have never seen a primary so rife with unfair acts aimed at eliminating a specific individual as this one.”

However, considering that it is urgent to approach the upcoming local elections united regardless of the primary results, he stated that rather than correcting unfairness through a rehearing request, he will devote himself to the victory of the Democratic Party of Korea in the local elections, to which he has dedicated his youth.

He also pledged to fulfill his responsibilities as Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council until the very last moment of his term.