Kim Kwan-young, the North Jeolla Province gubernatorial candidate who is running as an independent after being expelled from the Democratic Party of Korea, said Wednesday that he "did not receive prior coordination or support from President Lee Jae-myung."
Kim made the remarks on YTN Radio's "Jang Sung-cheol's News Myeongdang," saying, "The president recruited me as his No. 1 talent acquisition, and afterward, when I had to run as an independent, it was only proper that I inform the president about it."
Earlier, appearing on Jeonbuk CBS radio, Kim was asked by the host whether there had been any coordination with President Lee, and replied, "I did tell the president about the inevitability of running as an independent." On this matter, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae had criticized, "He has crossed the line by far. There is no way President Lee would have consulted with an independent candidate."
On Wednesday, Kim took aim at Jung, saying, "If possible, go to another battleground," and added, "I lean toward the Democratic Party anyway. I am the one who wants the Democratic Party to do better."
He further said, "The North Jeolla gubernatorial election has a confrontational structure between the pro-Jung and pro-Lee factions tied to this Democratic Party convention," adding, "Since I have been on a different line from leader Jung since last year's party convention, I believe these factors influenced my expulsion."
Kim also rebutted Secretary General Cho Seung-rae's characterization of him as "subject to permanent denial of party readmission." Kim said, "That's what the central party always says during elections," and asked, "Is there any case where an independent candidate, after winning the election, was not allowed to rejoin the party?"
