Kim Kwan-young, a preliminary candidate for Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province governor, announces an independent run at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council in Jeonju on May 7. [Photo=Yonhap]
Jeonbuk Gov. Kim Kwan-young on May 7 formally declared his candidacy in the June 3 local elections, saying he will run as an independent after being expelled from the Democratic Party.
At a news conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council in Jeonju, Kim questioned whether the party’s nomination process was fair and whether it reflected the will of Jeonbuk residents. “I will seek the judgment of the residents, not the party’s nomination certificate,” he said.
Kim was expelled after it became known just before the party’s primary for governor that he had handed out cash envelopes at a dinner with local young people in November and later retrieved some of the money. He said he paid the money as a substitute-driver fee to prevent drunk driving, adding, “It was my fault,” and apologized for causing residents “hurt and concern.”
In a CBS radio interview on “Park Seong-tae’s News Show,” Kim said he was expelled within 12 hours without an opportunity to explain. He also claimed party leaders treated another candidate’s alleged meal-payment scandal differently, saying only two people were interviewed and the case was dismissed. Many people, he said, view the leadership’s approach as “excessively unfair.”
Kim also said the timing of the release of CCTV footage showing the cash handoff suggested it may have been “strategic” and “planned.” He said he has asked police to investigate how the footage was leaked and provided.
At the news conference, Kim highlighted what he called achievements over the past four years, including attracting 27 trillion won in investment and Jeonju being selected as South Korea’s candidate city for the 2036 Summer Olympics. He said Jeonbuk’s industrial landscape is changing in areas such as physical artificial intelligence, secondary batteries, biotech, defense, renewable energy, Saemangeum and a financial hub, and pledged to be accountable for companies’ investment commitments.
Democratic Party candidate Lee Won-taek criticized Kim’s decision to press ahead with an independent run, saying the day before that once a primary ends, candidates need a culture of accepting the result and reflecting.
At a news conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council in Jeonju, Kim questioned whether the party’s nomination process was fair and whether it reflected the will of Jeonbuk residents. “I will seek the judgment of the residents, not the party’s nomination certificate,” he said.
Kim was expelled after it became known just before the party’s primary for governor that he had handed out cash envelopes at a dinner with local young people in November and later retrieved some of the money. He said he paid the money as a substitute-driver fee to prevent drunk driving, adding, “It was my fault,” and apologized for causing residents “hurt and concern.”
In a CBS radio interview on “Park Seong-tae’s News Show,” Kim said he was expelled within 12 hours without an opportunity to explain. He also claimed party leaders treated another candidate’s alleged meal-payment scandal differently, saying only two people were interviewed and the case was dismissed. Many people, he said, view the leadership’s approach as “excessively unfair.”
Kim also said the timing of the release of CCTV footage showing the cash handoff suggested it may have been “strategic” and “planned.” He said he has asked police to investigate how the footage was leaked and provided.
At the news conference, Kim highlighted what he called achievements over the past four years, including attracting 27 trillion won in investment and Jeonju being selected as South Korea’s candidate city for the 2036 Summer Olympics. He said Jeonbuk’s industrial landscape is changing in areas such as physical artificial intelligence, secondary batteries, biotech, defense, renewable energy, Saemangeum and a financial hub, and pledged to be accountable for companies’ investment commitments.
Democratic Party candidate Lee Won-taek criticized Kim’s decision to press ahead with an independent run, saying the day before that once a primary ends, candidates need a culture of accepting the result and reflecting.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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