The People Power Party Launches Offensive Over 'Kim Hye-kyung Secretary' Nomination Controversy... The Democratic Party Calls It "Clear Falsehood"

Democratic Party Strategically Nominates Candidate Kwon Hyang-yeop for Women's Strategic Zone
People Power Leadership and Lawmakers Unite in Criticism of 'Sacheon'
Democratic Party: "Clear Falsehood, Not Even a Secretary"

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The People Power Party is criticizing the Democratic Party of Korea for strategically nominating candidate Kwon Hyang-yeop, who assisted Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, in the last presidential election, to the Jeonnam Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye constituency, calling it 'Sacheon' (strategic nomination). In response, the Democratic Party announced legal action, stating that referring to candidate Kwon as Kim Hye-kyung's secretary is a "clear falsehood and serious defamation."

On the 5th, Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Democratic Party strategically nominated candidate Kwon, who assisted the spouse of leader Lee Jae-myung in the last presidential election," adding, "This nomination lacks even a mustard seed's worth of rationality in every aspect." He continued, "The incumbent lawmaker for this constituency, Seo Dong-yong of the Democratic Party, was not in the bottom 20% in legislative activity evaluations and reportedly showed more than twice the advantage over other preliminary candidates in opinion polls," and criticized, "However, the Democratic Party leadership denied the competitive and flawless incumbent a chance for a primary and suddenly made a parachute nomination."

He further stated, "This constituency is the only one designated as a female strategic special zone in this nomination," and added, "Among many constituencies nationwide, it is unclear why this particular area was designated as a female strategic special zone. Even the leader's fan cafe voices criticism."

On the 2nd, the Democratic Party's Supreme Council designated the Jeonnam Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye area as a female strategic special zone. Subsequently, the Democratic Party's Strategic Nomination Management Committee (Gonggwanwi) strategically nominated candidate Kwon to this area, excluding incumbent lawmaker Seo Dong-yong from the nomination. In response, on the 3rd, Seo expressed opposition to candidate Kwon's strategic nomination on his Facebook, stating, "The party's Gonggwanwi said that primaries are the principle in Honam constituencies. However, without any reason, they broke their own promise and ignored the procedures and principles set by party regulations."

Jang Dong-hyuk, secretary-general of the People Power Party, also said at the meeting, "Leader Lee mentioned rotten water nominations, and I thought it was a self-criticism of the Democratic Party's nominations," adding, "The Democratic Party's system nominations are probably based on the party leader's criminal defense experience, ability to flatter the party leader, and ability to assist the party leader's spouse."

Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, criticized at Baekseok University in Cheonan, Chungnam, the previous day, saying, "Looking at leader Lee's nominations, there are always truly jaw-dropping nominations," and added, "Since everything has been exposed anyway, it seems they are determined to show the ultimate in Sacheon."

In a statement released that day, the Democratic Party clarified, "Candidate Kwon has no personal relationship with the leader's spouse and was only appointed as the deputy head of the spouse's office in the presidential campaign headquarters, not as a secretary." They continued, "She has served as the central party's women's director, digital media director, and has been a party official for over 20 years. She also served as the balanced personnel secretary in the presidential office during the Moon Jae-in administration and as chief of staff for the National Assembly vice speaker," emphasizing, "Claiming Sacheon while ignoring such a career is nothing but malicious distortion." They explained, "Considering that the Jeonnam region had no female lawmakers and that there was no nomination participation by female candidates in this general election, the Gonggwanwi requested the strategic nomination of a female candidate, and the Strategic Nomination Committee reflected this in their review and decision."

The Democratic Party stressed, "If reports that differ from the facts are not corrected, we will strictly take legal action without exception."