Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, dismissed on the 19th the claim that former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-seon demanded the number one spot on the proportional representation list in exchange for exposing Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection, saying it was "completely untrue."
After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly main building that day, Heo told reporters, "We never promised (the nomination), and I understand that the part about Kim Young-seon mentioning it several times is also not true."
Earlier that day, media reports stated that former lawmaker Kim Young-seon exposed allegations of Kim Geon-hee's interference in the April 10 general election candidate selection and demanded the number one spot on the Reform New Party's proportional representation list as compensation.
In response, Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok refuted on Facebook the same day, saying, "'The offer of the number one spot on the Reform New Party's proportional representation list in exchange for exposing former lawmaker Kim Young-seon's interference allegations' is completely untrue," adding, "That was an expectation and demand from Kim Young-seon's side, and the Reform New Party had no reason to offer it."
When asked why lawmaker Lee and floor leader Cheon Ha-ram met with former lawmaker Kim at Chilbulsa Temple, Heo said, "I am not well aware of that situation." It is known that lawmaker Lee and former lawmaker Kim negotiated over the proportional representation nomination at Chilbulsa Temple located in Hadong, Gyeongnam.
She added, "I heard that (former lawmaker Kim) wanted a proportional representation spot, but I did not hear about the number one spot on the list," and "I only remember opposing that part."
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