Members of the Nonsan City Council in Chungnam have been engulfed in internal strife over the formation of the second half of the council. Some Democratic Party members are strongly opposing, raising suspicions that they colluded with People Power Party members, breaking party lines regarding the election of the second half chairperson group.
In particular, Assemblyman Hwang Myung-seon, who is the regional chairman for Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan, also serves as the Deputy Secretary-General of Organization overseeing the Democratic Party’s nationwide regional committees. The outcome, which directly contradicts the party line in Hwang’s constituency, is expected to damage his leadership.
Additionally, two Democratic Party members suspected of such conduct reportedly submitted their resignation from the party immediately after the second half council formation, leading to criticism that this was a tactical resignation to avoid disciplinary action.
According to a compilation of reports by Asia Economy on the 30th, the Nonsan City Council held a regular session on the 28th and elected Assemblyman Jo Yong-hoon (Democratic Party) and Assemblyman Kim Nam-chung (People Power Party) as chairperson and vice-chairperson for the second half, respectively.
Also elected were Assemblyman Kim Jong-wook (Democratic Party) as the Chair of the Steering Committee, Assemblyman Min Byung-chun (Democratic Party) as Chair of the Administration and Autonomy Committee, and Assemblyman Hong Tae-ui (People Power Party) as Chair of the Industry and Construction Committee.
The Democratic Party held an executive committee meeting at Assemblyman Hwang Myung-seon’s office on the 15th, where through a primary between Assemblyman Jo Bae-sik and Assemblyman Jo Yong-hoon, Assemblyman Jo Bae-sik was endorsed as the chairperson for the second half of the Nonsan City Council.
However, contrary to the Democratic Party’s general assembly results, Assemblyman Jo Yong-hoon defeated Assemblyman Jo Bae-sik by 7 to 6 votes and was elected chairperson.
For standing committee chairs, Assemblywoman Yoon Geum-sook was initially nominated for the Steering Committee and Assemblyman Seo Seung-pil for the Administration and Autonomy Committee, but Assemblyman Kim Jong-wook and Assemblyman Min Byung-chun were elected instead.
The city council has 13 seats, with the Democratic Party holding 7 seats and the People Power Party 6 seats, making the Democratic Party the majority.
Because of this, suspicions have arisen that Assemblymen Jo Yong-hoon, Kim Jong-wook, and Min Byung-chun colluded with People Power Party members.
Democratic Party members including Chair Seo Won, Assemblywoman Yoon Geum-sook, Assemblyman Seo Seung-pil, and Assemblyman Jo Bae-sik issued a press release immediately after the second half chairperson group election, stating, “Regarding the second half council formation, the three members who colluded with members of other parties against the originally agreed party line by the seven Democratic Party members should be expelled and removed from the party.”
Chair Seo also apologized in the Democratic Party members’ group chat, saying, “This is truly humiliating and shameful,” and “As chairperson, I cannot be free from responsibility for this situation. I am sorry.”
He added, “Today will be recorded in history as a disgrace and humiliation for the Democratic Party’s Nonsan regional committee,” and criticized, “It must feel like betraying the country. They will be shameful parents to their children.”
One party member commented, “Elected by absolute support in a Democratic Party stronghold, did these people give the citizens a big slap in the face?” and criticized, “Those who were elected by luck with the Democratic Party label in a traditionally strong Democratic area, blinded by personal ambition for two years as chairperson and standing committee chairs, colluding with People Power Party members, have no relation to the Democratic Party’s principles. The problem is that such people became council members in the first place.”
Another party member pointed out, “The three members involved in the misconduct should be expelled. Party members would never behave like this.”
Yet another party member said, “This is a mess. I anticipated some issues but never expected this,” and urged, “Please keep the promise made by aide Jeon Mun-hak to expel anyone involved if such a situation arises.”
Jeon Mun-hak, aide to Assemblyman Hwang Myung-seon, announced, “The Democratic Party regional committee plans to file a disciplinary petition on July 1 against those who violated the party’s guidelines regarding the second half council formation in Nonsan and Gyeryong city councils.”
Attempts to reach Assemblyman Hwang for comment via phone and text were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Assemblymen Jo Yong-hoon and Kim Jong-wook reportedly submitted their resignations from the party to the regional committee on the 28th.
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