"Register Your Address as Buyeo": Democratic Party Accused of Recruiting Fake Members

Kim Kiseo Accused of Urging Non-Residents to Falsely Register as Buyeo Residents
People Power Party Chungnam Branch Demands Immediate Resignation, Calls for Strong Disciplinary Action

Ki Seo Kim, Chungnam Provincial Councilor

Kim Kiseo, a member of the Chungnam Provincial Council (Buyeo 1) from the Democratic Party of Korea, who is considered a strong candidate for Buyeo County Governor in next year's local elections, is at the center of controversy after evidence emerged that he encouraged people living outside the region to "register their address as Buyeo" in order to fraudulently join the party as members.

The Chungnam Provincial Party of the People Power Party issued a statement on August 4, calling this "a deliberate act of manipulation that shakes democracy at its roots," and demanding Kim's immediate resignation as well as strong disciplinary action from the Democratic Party.

Assemblyman Kim Giseo sent a party membership invitation message to an unspecified number of people. Photo by Lee Byungryul

It was revealed that Kim sent mobile messages to an unspecified number of residents, stating, "Even those who have moved their address elsewhere can register if they enter the address where they used to live in the countryside," and specifically asked, "Please set your address to Buyeo and list Kim Kiseo as your recommender."

The Chungnam Provincial Party of the People Power Party criticized this, saying, "Selecting party candidates is the foundation of democratic politics, but recruiting members through lies and illegal means to distort the primary is a direct violation of fair political order."

They further stated, "The 'fairness' and 'reform' that the Democratic Party has so loudly championed have been reduced to mere slogans in the face of such despicable tricks."

In particular, they emphasized, "The act of systematically making people enter false addresses cannot be dismissed as a simple mistake," adding, "This is an act that deceives the people of Buyeo and tramples on the procedures of democracy."

Controversy has arisen as evidence has emerged that Assemblyman Kim Giseo recruited 'fake party members' in preparation for the party primary in next year's local elections. Photo is a screenshot of a text message sent to the reporter / Photo by Lee Byungryul

In response, Kim explained in a text message sent to a reporter on August 2, "It was my fault, and it happened because I was overly enthusiastic. I did wrong. I ask for your leniency."

Within the local political community, there is a growing view that Kim's actions were a planned "attempt to manipulate party membership" ahead of the party primary, and that a thorough investigation and strong measures such as expulsion by the Democratic Party's central committee are necessary.