The Democratic Party of Korea discussed the candidacy eligibility of Representative Song Young-gil on July 16 but did not reach a conclusion. The party plans to hold a closed meeting of its Supreme Council on the morning of July 17 to revisit the issue.
Chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun told reporters at the National Assembly, "We began discussions today regarding the eligibility of some candidates as candidate registration has started." He emphasized that the meeting was not a formal Supreme Council session but rather an informal gathering.
According to party regulations, eligibility to run for office is granted to party members who have been registered for at least six months prior to the election date and have paid party dues at least six times within the year leading up to the election.
Song rejoined the party in February 2023 after leaving amid allegations of distributing money envelopes. As of the first day of candidate registration, he does not meet the six-month requirement.
It is reported that the party's Supreme Council could grant Song eligibility through a formal decision. However, if the ongoing factional conflicts within the Supreme Council prevent a resolution, the decision may be difficult to achieve.
In addition to Song, other candidates for the party leadership include former leader Jeong Cheong-rae, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Representative Ko Min-jeong, and former Gangjin County Council Chair Kim Bo-mi.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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