Candidate Kim Kwangjin: "Gwangju Seogu-eul Must Select Candidate Through Democratic Party Primary"

The Democratic Party of Korea included the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (Eul) electoral district in the 'strategic electoral districts,' prompting preliminary candidate Kim Kwang-jin to demand that it be changed to a primary election district.

On the 4th, Kim, a preliminary candidate, opened his remarks in front of the Democratic Party's Gwangju City Party office, saying, "This is not an issue caused by the candidates who have declared their candidacy, but a problem arising from the regional chairman who left the party. Since it is a procedure according to the party constitution and regulations, I have expressed my acceptance based on 'procedural democracy.'"

He continued, "On the 25th, I also stated the position that a nomination that guarantees the 'right to choose' of 140,000 Seo-gu Eul residents and adheres to the 'primary election principle' is a nomination that meets 'procedural legitimacy,'" and demanded, "I ask the Democratic Party to become a party that protects democracy together with citizens and party members."

Kim mentioned ▲ the case during the 19th general election when the Democratic Party did not nominate candidates due to a joint nomination with the Unified Progressive Party ▲ the case in the 19th by-election where an independent candidate was elected ▲ the case in the 20th general election where, contrary to the Democratic Party's decision to make a strategic nomination, the candidate from the People's Party won ▲ and the case in the 21st general election where the elected candidate, who was strategically nominated through talent recruitment in the 20th general election, declared a merger with a conservative party before completing the 21st National Assembly term, pointing out the 'instability of Seo-gu politics.'

He emphasized, "Party members and voters in the Seo-gu Eul area have expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party for losing their rights as party members and their right to choose as citizens due to unilateral decisions by the central party over the past decade," and added, "This time, I have been fulfilling my duties as a party member for a long time with the thought of nominating good candidates by the hands of party members and citizens."

Furthermore, he said, "Depriving that authority this time as well is neither proper in process nor successful in outcome," and added, "For the victory of the Democratic Party and for the elected candidate to play a key role in creating the fourth term of the democratic government, there must be no division within the Democratic Party."

He also stated, "Even if the nomination process proceeds due to the 'inclusion in strategic electoral districts,' the 'primary election principle' clause specified in 'Party Regulation No. 10, Article 33, Paragraph 4' must be strictly observed," and added, "This will be the way to produce a fair result in recommending public office candidates that all other Democratic Party preliminary candidates, including myself who closely observe the lives of local residents and strive for regional development, and the 140,000 Seo-gu Eul residents can accept."