Four City Council Members Including Seo Won and Seo Seungpil Issue Statement... Request for Reinvestigation of Ethics Committee Decision on Second Half Council Formation
From the left in the photo, Seo Won, Seo Seungpil, Yoon Geumsook, and Cho Baesik, Democratic Party council members of Nonsan City, urged the resignation of Councilor Hwang Myungseon, who is "only exercising rights while avoiding responsibility."
Some members of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) from Nonsan City Council in South Chungcheong Province have called for the resignation of Hwang Myungseon, the regional chairperson for Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan.
On the 29th, four council members?Seo Won, Seo Seungpil, Yoon Geumsook, and Cho Baesik?issued a statement pointing out, "While the Democratic Party aims to uphold party members' sovereignty, the Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan regional committee has seen that sovereignty disappear, giving way to autocratic rule that goes against the principles of autonomy and decentralization."
They further criticized, "The South Chungcheong Provincial Party Ethics Committee is making decisions that defy common sense, undermining fairness among other city and provincial parties, as well as the principles and values of the Democratic Party."
The city council members claimed, "Citing party members' sovereignty, Representative Hwang issued unprecedented guidelines prohibiting consecutive terms for the second half of the city council's leadership, in accordance with the central party's constitution and regulations, and repeatedly had attendees sign the meeting minutes to confirm their compliance with the primary results."
They specifically pointed out, "He was so proactive that he even required candidates for council chair to present their platforms in front of dozens of regional executive committee members."
Prior to the reorganization of the council's leadership for the latter half of the term, the Democratic Party members had internally nominated Cho Baesik as council chair, and Yoon Geumsook and Seo Seungpil as the heads of the Steering Committee and the Administrative Autonomy Committee, respectively, in a party primary held in June.
However, in the council chair and standing committee chair election held on June 28, council members Cho Yonghun, Kim Jonguk, and Min Byungchun were elected as chair, steering committee chair, and administrative autonomy committee chair, respectively, by forming an alliance with some members of the People Power Party.
The council members criticized, "Representative Hwang, as the regional chair, has not expressed any stance to party members or council members and has consistently maintained an irresponsible attitude."
They reiterated their criticism, stating, "Hwang has remained silent even when council members requested meetings, pushing those who faithfully followed his instructions and the central party's guidelines to the brink."
The council members also raised suspicions that Hwang, who serves as the Deputy Secretary-General for Organization at the central party, may have influenced or exerted external pressure regarding the provincial party ethics committee's decision to issue only light disciplinary action to Chair Cho Yonghun and two others.
They argued, "Considering the rulings and standards of other city and provincial parties nationwide, there is reasonable suspicion that external pressure influenced the provincial party ethics committee's decision."
They went on to reveal, "The provincial party ethics committee chair previously served as chief secretary to former South Chungcheong Governor Yang Seungjo. After the ethics complaint was filed against Chair Cho Yonghun and others, a former council chair, referred to as Mr. A, contacted former Governor Yang to ask him to prevent the expulsion of the three, which Yang has acknowledged."
They requested, "We urge the Central Party Ethics Inspection Team to conduct a swift investigation so that principles are upheld and the Democratic Party's values are restored."
The council members also stated, "The provincial party ethics committee has set a bad precedent by granting immunity to Democratic Party council members who collude with other parties and engage in acts against the party. If other city or provincial parties cite the Nonsan case in the future, how will the Democratic Party respond?" They called for the expulsion of the three members in accordance with the party constitution and regulations.
They added, "We will hold rallies in front of Representative Hwang's regional office and the central party headquarters, demanding a reinvestigation and continuing until principles are properly established."
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