Democratic Party Expels Member for Refusing Primary Results... Disciplinary Process for Drunk Driving Charges
Unable to Elect Vice Chair and Tourism Economy Committee Chair, Members Rebel Against Party Primary Results and Withdraw
The Mokpo City Council faced a disruption as Democratic Party-affiliated council members opposed the party's candidate primary results for the 12th term second half chairperson election, leading to dissenting votes.
According to the city council on the 2nd, the final vote held at the temporary session on the 1st resulted in Democratic Party councilor Jo Seong-o being elected as chairperson.
However, in the vice-chairperson election, councilor Kim Gwan-ho, who ran unopposed, and tourism economy committee chair candidate Park Hyo-sang failed to secure a majority with 9 and 11 votes respectively, resulting in a vote of no confidence.
Meanwhile, Jeong Jae-hoon was elected as the operations committee chair, Choi Hyun-joo as the planning and welfare committee chair, and Choi Hwan-seok as the urban construction committee chair. The remaining committee formations will be selected at the temporary session on the 9th after re-announcement.
Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the Democratic Party Supreme Council expelled councilor Kim Gwi-seon, who ran and lost in the Democratic Party chairperson candidate primary for the Mokpo City Council.
Councilor Kim Gwi-seon recently stated regarding the Mokpo City Council second half chairperson candidate primary, "It lost principles and fairness," and declared, "I will run as a candidate for the second half chairperson of the Mokpo City Council."
In response, Kim Won-i, a member of the National Assembly and head of the Mokpo regional committee, issued a statement saying, "The primary was conducted democratically and fairly, and it was a legitimate primary," and warned of disciplinary action, stating, "We will prevent recurrence through strong punishment."
Notably, on the 1st, a situation arose where a Democratic Party-affiliated Mokpo city councilor was caught for drunk driving, and the Democratic Party initiated disciplinary procedures against the councilor, drawing public attention.
Councilor Park Hyo-sang was caught for drunk driving in October last year, was prosecuted without detention, and the police investigation results were reportedly notified to the council in November last year.
Councilor Park Hyo-sang issued a statement saying, "I never drove under the influence," and "I have decided to leave the Democratic Party as I am causing a great burden to the party I belong to and many people."
In response, a representative of the Mokpo regional committee said, "The regional committee should basically request disciplinary action from the Jeonnam Provincial Party regarding the drunk driving charge," adding, "Although the court's judgment remains, the Provincial Party Ethics Tribunal should review the charges and decide on disciplinary action."
Due to these internal conflicts among Democratic Party Mokpo city councilors and the drunk driving incident, the political sphere in Mokpo City is engulfed in turmoil.
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