Nonsan City Council Democratic Party Members: "Members Who Broke Party Line Should Be Expelled and Removed"

Assemblyman Jo Baesik Nominated as Speaker Candidate but Assemblyman Jo Yonghun Elected
Assemblymen Seowon and Seoseungpil Accuse "Collusion with Members from Other Parties"

Some members of the Democratic Party in the Nonsan City Council of Chungnam demanded on the 28th the "expulsion and removal from the party of three members who betrayed the party" in relation to the second half organizational structure.

The Nonsan City Council held the 256th regular meeting that day and elected the chairman, vice-chairman, and standing committee chairs for the second half.

Earlier, on the 15th, the Democratic Party had nominated Councilor Jo Baesik as the chairman candidate and Councilors Yoon Geumsuk and Kim Jongwook as standing committee chairs, but an unexpected event occurred when Councilor Jo Yonghun (re-elected) was elected as the chairman for the second half.

There were suspicions that this was a result of collusion with members of the People Power Party to push Councilor Jo as the chairman for the second half.

Chairman Seo Won, Councilors Seo Seungpil, Jo Baesik, and Yoon Geumsuk issued a press release that day, stating to National Assembly member Hwang Myungseon, "Regarding the second half organizational structure, the seven Democratic Party members who initially agreed and decided on the party line should expel and remove from the party the three members who colluded with members of other parties."

Chairman Seo expressed "strong regret over this act of betrayal by members of the same party," pointing out that "the members who engaged in betrayal politics have destroyed the most important virtue of politicians, trust."

He added, "Citizens will surely remember the members who committed this act," and "It is regrettable how a city council that has lost trust will face the citizens."

Councilor Kim Jongwook (Democratic Party) is known to have left the Democratic Party after the second half organizational structure was finalized.

In a phone interview with a reporter, Councilor Kim said, "I wondered how I could communicate in this situation, so I submitted my resignation from the party," adding, "I will carry out my council activities as an independent for the time being."