Seoul Jung-gu Council Chairman Gil Ki-young's Expulsion and Severe Disciplinary Action Sparks Backlash

Chairman Gil Ki-young Holds Press Conference on the 18th, Declares "Will Not Cowardly Respond to Baseless Accusations and Slanders for the People Power Party, Condemns Political Retaliation by Disrespectful Factions"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the morning of the 18th at 10:30 AM, Gil Gi-yeong, Chairperson of the Jung-gu Council in Seoul, criticized the severe disciplinary action of 'expulsion' imposed by the People Power Party Seoul Ethics Committee for 'misconduct' at the council plenary session.

Chairman Gil Ki-young is delivering a statement.

Chairperson Gil held a press conference and explained, "As the 9th Jung-gu Council was inaugurated, I firmly held the political conviction that it was desirable for council members from both ruling and opposition parties to harmoniously and smoothly form the chairperson group."

He added, "However, this political conviction became a victim of baseless accusations and slanderous retaliation due to irresponsible acts driven by selfishness and personal greed of some disrespectful political forces and certain ruling party council members aiming to achieve their own goals. Despite being a genuine party member who has devoted and sacrificed for the People Power Party for a long time, I was discarded like a used object and was wrongfully expelled under the pretext of misconduct, which has neither justification nor benefit."

He continued, "Responding individually to forces that slander me with baseless accusations as if I committed a major misconduct against the People Power Party, which is entirely contrary to the substantive truth, would rather harm the party. Therefore, out of loyalty to the party, I have refrained from responding to this absurd reality that labels me as guilty of misconduct, believing that not responding is better for the party. Until now, I have faced this situation with dignity without making excuses."

He also stated, "If I had greedily sought the chairperson position and colluded with the opposition to commit misconduct against the People Power Party, would the ruling party district mayor have been able to politically unite opposition council members to effectively manage district affairs? From this perspective, I have never committed misconduct against the People Power Party and will never yield to such political retaliation. I will humbly and resolutely refuse to respond submissively to disrespectful baseless accusations and slander for the sake of the People Power Party."

Meanwhile, on October 11, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled on the injunction request filed by a People Power Party member of the Seoul Jung-gu Council in August against the council regarding the validity of the chairperson and vice-chairperson election resolutions. The court decided, "Since Councilor Gil Gi-yeong lawfully continued to convene and conduct the plenary session as acting chairperson, the injunction request to suspend the effect of the chairperson and vice-chairperson election resolutions is dismissed as groundless."

Despite the court's dismissal of the injunction, the People Power Party Seoul Ethics Committee expelled Chairperson Gil Gi-yeong on November 4 under the pretext of 'misconduct.'