[Exclusive] Kim Kiseo of Chungnam Provincial Council Suspected of Recruiting 'Fake Democratic Party Members' with False Addresses

Kim Kiseo Faces Allegations of Inducing Out-of-District Residents
to Register with Buyeo Addresses Ahead of Local Elections

Democratic Party Kim Giseo Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member

Kim Kiseo, a member of the Chungnam Provincial Council from the Democratic Party of Korea, who is being considered as a candidate for Buyeo County Governor in next year's 6·3 local elections, is facing controversy after suspicions emerged that he recruited so-called 'fake party members' ahead of the party's primary.

It was revealed that he effectively encouraged people residing in other regions to register as party members using an address in Buyeo, thereby inducing them to provide false addresses.

According to coverage by Asia Economy on August 2, Kim encouraged party membership registration via mobile, stating, "Even those who have moved to other areas can register if they enter the address where they lived in the countryside," and added, "Please use Buyeo as the address and list Kim Kiseo as the recommender."

This is interpreted as an attempt to create 'election-oriented party members' in order to secure party members favorable to a specific constituency.

Assemblyman Kim Giseo capturing a text message guide for party membership registration on mobile / Informant

The Democratic Party's Chungnam Provincial Chapter had already announced in June that "falsifying addresses may constitute forgery of private documents and obstruction of business," and warned that if any illegal activity is confirmed, it could result in disqualification from nomination and referral to the Ethics Tribunal.

A Democratic Party member said, "Local politics is being tainted by the competition to recruit party members through expedient and illegal means ahead of the primaries," and added, "A thorough investigation by the party and strict disciplinary action are necessary."

In a phone call, Kim explained, "I only asked acquaintances," and admitted, "It was my mistake." However, criticism is mounting that he may have knowingly used illegal methods as an election strategy.