Tensions are escalating between the Democratic Party leadership and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young in North Jeolla Province, which has emerged as a key battleground in the June 3 local elections. Disputes continued Wednesday over Kim's earlier remarks that he had communicated with President Lee Jae-myung before launching his independent bid.
In a radio interview that day, Kim said, "Since I had to run as an independent, wasn't it only proper to inform the president?" but added, "I did not receive prior coordination or support from President Lee." In an earlier radio interview, Kim had also said, "I did mention to the president the inevitability of running as an independent."
Kim took aim at Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, saying, "If possible, please go to another battleground," adding, "I am inclined toward the Democratic Party anyway and want the Democratic Party to do better." He also said, "The North Jeolla governor race involves a pro-Jung versus pro-Lee confrontation tied to the upcoming Democratic Party convention," reaffirming his intention to rejoin the party after winning as an independent.
His rival, Democratic Party candidate Lee Won-taek, held a press conference the same day urging Kim to withdraw, saying, "He has defiled the North Jeolla election by selling the president's name and trampled on the pride of the province's residents." Lee said, "When controversy surrounded him, instead of reflecting, he dragged in Chairman Jung, who has nothing to do with this, and now he is going further by pulling President Lee's name into the election."
The presidential office responded through a media notice, stating, "Elections belong to the candidates and voters," and asking that "the president and the presidential office not be drawn into election issues or used as material for political disputes."
Kim's camp and the Democratic Party also continued to spar over a surprise protest demanding Jung's resignation that broke out the previous day at his campaign event in North Jeolla. Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party's floor leader, raised his voice, saying, "There is a high possibility that this was a pre-planned, organized attack. Strict enforcement of the law is needed." In response, Kim's election campaign committee urged supporters to "conduct a peaceful and dignified campaign."
A sense of crisis is also growing within the Democratic Party as recent opinion polls have shown Kim and Lee in a tight race or Kim ahead in successive surveys. The floor leader, whose constituency is in North Jeolla, visited the Honam region again that day after a similar visit the previous day, working to shore up sentiment in what has long been a party stronghold. Beyond North Jeolla, where Kim has stirred up momentum, the Rebuilding Korea Party and independent candidates are also making gains across the Honam region. "If the party loses in Honam, where it has always won, the leadership's standing will inevitably be greatly weakened," a Democratic Party official said. "The leadership is making an all-out effort, but the outcome is hard to guarantee."
