Kim Kwan-young, who is running as an independent candidate for Jeollabuk-do governor, pushed back Monday against the Democratic Party of Korea's warning of a "permanent ban on rejoining the party," saying he "would refuse to rejoin even if allowed."
Kim's election campaign committee said in a statement that "Cho Seung-rae, the head of the Democratic Party's campaign committee, mentioned Kim at a press briefing and classified him as a target of a 'permanent ban on rejoining.'" The campaign committee said, "What infuriates Jeonbuk residents is that the Democratic Party leadership executed his abrupt expulsion within 12 hours without giving him even a minimal opportunity to explain himself, while the allegations raised against Lee Won-taek, a candidate from their loyalist faction, were brushed aside with just two phone calls." It added, "The tide of public sentiment, that Jeonbuk residents must revive the Kim Kwan-young discarded by Democratic Party leader Chung Chung-rae, is growing stronger as time passes."
The committee further stated, "Kim makes it clear that under the Chung Chung-rae leadership, which is blinded by self-interest, he would not accept rejoining even if offered, and has even less reason to apply for it." It criticized, "Chairman Cho should put his hand on his heart and reflect on whether, as a public party, he exercised party power based on fairness and justice."
Earlier, Cho mentioned Kim at a press briefing at the National Assembly, saying, "He is a target of a permanent ban on rejoining, and the party will not accept him just because he wants to come back on his own terms." Regarding allegations raised by Kim's camp about the nomination process, Cho called them "absurd claims," adding, "Because they are clearly false, we are reviewing legal action."
Kim, the incumbent governor of Jeollabuk-do, was expelled from the Democratic Party over allegations that he had provided about 1 million won in cash as designated driver fees at a drinking gathering with young party members and others. After being stripped of his candidacy, he protested that the party's action was unjust and declared his independent candidacy.
