Song Young-gil's assertion that independent candidate Kim Kwan-young is "also a person chosen by President Lee Jae-myung" has ignited controversy, leading to a heated exchange between Lee Won-taek, the Democratic Party's candidate for Jeonbuk governor, and Kim.
On May 31, Lee's campaign team criticized Song, stating, "By praising Kim, who was permanently expelled from the party over allegations of illegal cash distribution, as 'a Democratic Party person' and 'a person chosen by the president,' he is undermining the party's official decision and deceiving voters."
They further claimed, "Kim's campaign is immediately exploiting Song's comments for election promotion, spreading the narrative that he is 'also a Democratic Party person.' It is a clear distortion of facts and an attempt to obscure the truth that a candidate expelled from the party is masquerading as a Democratic Party member."
In response, Kim's camp defended Song's statement, asserting, "It is a clear truth that Kim is a person chosen by the president." They emphasized that President Lee Jae-myung had welcomed Kim into the party on December 10, 2021, stating, "I believe he is a great asset, and it seems the first step toward a grand unification is opening up."
Additionally, they criticized the Lee camp for attacking a former party leader who has represented the people's sentiments, urging, "Show proper respect to Song, who is campaigning in a competitive district in Incheon."
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with the YouTube channel 'Speaks,' Song stated, "It is contradictory for the Democratic Party to exclude Kim while concentrating its efforts in Jeonbuk. Since Kim is also a person chosen by the president, we should leave it to the people's judgment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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