Gyeongnam Superintendent Conservative-Moderate Unification Coalition: "Non-Participants Must Return Immediately, Stop Delaying the Primary"

Legal Action Threatened Over Defamation and False Information

Amid ongoing discord in the process of selecting a unified conservative and moderate candidate for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education in the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June, the unification coalition has called for the immediate return of those who withdrew from the primary process.

On January 12, the conservative and moderate candidate unification coalition for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education held a press conference in front of the main gate of the Gyeongnam Office of Education. They directly refuted the controversies raised by some prospective candidates and demanded that those who expressed their intention not to participate in the second primary immediately rejoin the unification process.

The coalition emphasized, "Claims of unfairness in the first round of polling and accusations of breaking the promise not to disclose the results are false and unfounded. We will respond firmly, including taking legal action, against defamation and the spread of false information that delay and tarnish the unification process."

The coalition explained that after the first round of polling, Kim Sangkwon, former Director of Education at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, and Kim Younggon, former Deputy Minister of Education, each cited a lack of justification and uncertainty in the situation, leading to an agreement to move the final unification date from the originally agreed January 8 and 9 to the end of January. Recently, however, they have requested another postponement to March.

They criticized this move, stating, "This is simply an attempt to delay the unification primary until a time that is personally desirable."

They added, "It is a very regrettable reality that the initial commitment to actively participate in the coalition's candidate unification process, as affirmed by signing the unification pledge, has been abandoned."

Conservative and moderate unification alliance members for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education are holding a press conference with Choi Byunghun, former Director of Education Policy at Gyeongnam Office of Education (far left), and Kwon Sungki, former President of Gyeongsang National University (far right). Photo by Lee Seryung

Regarding the allegations of unfairness in the first round of polling raised by some participants, the coalition countered, "The poll was conducted fairly with a sample size of over 1,000 people, as agreed by all participants."

They further explained, "The figures of 1,014 respondents from polling company A and 951 from polling company B, both with conservative and moderate leanings, fall within the statistically acceptable range, and all prospective candidates had agreed to this in advance, as confirmed by recorded conversations."

In response to claims that the results of the first round of polling were disclosed despite an agreement not to do so, the coalition stated, "The executive who leaked internal data has been expelled. We also informed all prospective candidates that, according to the National Election Commission's regulations, polls using virtual numbers must be made public."

"However, at the request to keep the rankings and approval ratings confidential at the event, the coalition did not announce them on site. Criticizing this is a serious act of defamation," they pointed out.

The coalition stated, "We welcome the participation of Kwon Sungki, former President of Gyeongsang National University, and Choi Byunghun, former Director of Education Policy at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, in the unification primary. The coalition will adhere to the principles agreed upon in the pledge and complete a trustworthy unification process by ensuring fair procedures and transparent disclosure."

They further urged, "Prospective candidates who did not participate in the second primary discussions must immediately return to the unification process. The 3.3 million residents of the province are watching. With a spirit of prioritizing the public good over personal interests, please return to the original intent of the unification pledge and actively participate in the dialogue."

Kwon Sungki, former President of Gyeongsang National University, and Choi Byunghun, former Director of School Policy at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, also expressed concerns about the disruption of the unification process and appealed for the participation of all prospective candidates who had agreed to the unification.

Choi Byunghun, former Director of Educational Policy at Gyeongnam Office of Education (from the far left), Kim Younggon, former Deputy Minister of Education, Kim Sangkwon, former Director of Education at Gyeongnam Office of Education, and Kwon Sungi, former President of Gyeongsang National University, passed the first primary election for the unification of conservative and moderate candidates for Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education. Provided by the Conservative and Moderate Gyeongnam Superintendent Candidate Unification Alliance

Previously, the unification coalition conducted the first round of polling on December 10-11 last year, targeting men and women aged 18 and over in the Gyeongnam region. As a result, Kwon Sungki, former President of Gyeongsang National University, Kim Sangkwon, former Director of Education at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, Kim Younggon, former Deputy Minister of Education, and Choi Byunghun, former Director of Education Policy at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, were selected as candidates for the second round of polling.

Kwon Jintaek, former President of Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Kim Seungo, former Education Administrator at the Blue House, and Choi Haebeom, former President of Changwon National University, who were eliminated, raised concerns about unfairness during the first round of polling, claiming that some polling agencies did not meet the sample criteria.

Kim Sangkwon, former Director of Education at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, and Kim Younggon, former Deputy Minister of Education, who passed the first round, argued that a coalition official had leaked the polling results and announced that they would not participate in coalition-led schedules until measures to prevent a recurrence were put in place.

Lee Kunhyun, former National Assembly member, who was among the eight prospective candidates, opposed the unification method using polling without open debate and did not participate in the first round of polling.

The unification coalition plans to proceed as scheduled with a debate on the 19th and the second round of polling on the 28th and 29th, and to confirm the final candidate on the 30th.