The aftershocks of bribery suspicions surrounding Son Hoon-mo, the Democratic Party's preliminary candidate for Suncheon mayor, are shaking all 22 cities and counties across South Jeolla Province.
What crime have other Democratic Party-nominated candidates in other cities and counties committed?
These candidates appear to be distancing themselves, saying "we are different from the Democratic Party candidate in Suncheon," fearing the fallout might reach them.
The Democratic Party also appears cornered.
Replacing him would leave no suitable alternative candidate, while keeping him would cement the party's image as stained by corruption suspicions.
The problem is that the suspicions against candidate Son Hoon-mo are not limited to this.
It is literally a "comprehensive corruption gift set of suspicions." The list of allegations keeps growing, including "proxy crime solicitation" suspicions during the 2024 general elections, along with "perjury instigation suspicions" of inducing false testimony.
In this situation, with Suncheon already being a region that chooses based on the person rather than the party, public sentiment toward the Democratic Party is grim. In particular, as the "political maneuvering" dispute with Oh Ha-geun, his opponent in the party's runoff, has expanded, emotional rifts have only deepened rather than forming a united team.
Adding to this, the stronghold of incumbent Suncheon Mayor Noh Kwan-kyu, an independent, remains solid even before his official declaration of candidacy. He is showing a clear advantage in the candidate debate by highlighting achievements that exceed his own pledges, including the massive success of the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo that marked a milestone among Korea's international events, and the injection of livelihood support funds at the most needed time alongside Costco, which quenched Suncheon citizens' thirst. Mayor Noh is expected to make his official candidacy announcement on the 6th.
In the end, for the Democratic Party, which cannot even replace the candidate and can only hope for public opinion to quiet down, the situation appears to be truly agonizing.
The Democratic Party's judgment on the "Suncheon Son Hoon-mo incident" is expected to ultimately shake the election landscape in neighboring areas as well.
In some quarters, sarcastic voices are frequently heard saying the party has provided justification for a neighboring candidate who left the Democratic Party to run as an independent.
The "Suncheon Son Hoon-mo incident" has clearly imprinted the perception that independent Gwangyang mayoral candidate Park Sung-hyun was unjustly excluded from the Democratic Party primary.
Candidate Park Sung-hyun was stripped of his Democratic Party primary eligibility over an illegal phone room operation. Despite explaining that "it was the deviation of a campaign official in which I was not involved," his explanation was ultimately not accepted.
In contrast, candidate Son Hoon-mo offered the exact same explanation as candidate Park, but it appears the decision has been made to watch how things unfold without him shedding his Democratic Party colors. This is despite the matter appearing far more serious than Park Sung-hyun's case.
Independent Gwangyang mayoral candidate Park Sung-hyun. Watching this "Son Hoon-mo incident," one wonders if he might be the biggest victim of the Democratic Party's nomination process. Public opinion is practically boiling over.
Gwangyang City has a relatively high conservative support rate due to the influence of POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks, and with forces dissatisfied with Democratic Party nominations rallying together, independent mayors have been elected in all four previous elections.
With independent candidate Park and Democratic Party candidate Jung In-hwa shown to be in a close race in several recent polls, the dominant view is that the outcome will be difficult to predict until the votes are counted, and as clearly demonstrated in the "Suncheon Son Hoon-mo incident," sympathy is being added to the mix.
Along with the noise from the Democratic Party nomination process that erupted in Suncheon and Gwangyang, there is South Jeolla Governor Kim Yeong-rok's 0.89 percentage points.
Governor Kim directly criticized the unfairness in the Democratic Party's final primary process, including 2,308 cases of "ARS malfunctions," inadequate voting guidance for the electorate, duplicate voting by rights-holding party members, and non-disclosure of information about the overall primary.
What is the standard for Democratic Party nominations, including those of leader Jung Cheong-rae? Cold voices against unfair nominations are echoing everywhere.
"This is the typical image of the Democratic Party begging Honam only when it needs votes."
Such critical voices are strong throughout Gwangju and South Jeolla.
The side effects of the Democratic Party's one-party system.
"Highly intelligent gag orders."
The complaints of South Jeolla residents over administrative integration pushed through at breakneck speed are gradually surfacing immediately after the Democratic Party primary. Concerns over the side effects of the reckless speed of administrative integration appear to be increasingly confronting reality.
Numerous South Jeolla residents unanimously say, "Why, unlike other regions, are Gwangju and South Jeolla bargaining budgets through integration?"
While Gwangju and South Jeolla have given virtually 100% overwhelming support to the Democratic Party unlike other regions, the number of citizens and provincial residents questioning why Gwangju and South Jeolla—which have been sidelined—must be tested with integration as hostage is gradually growing.
Practically, the authorities and budget support promises necessary for the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City have been reduced to bad checks, stirring up arguments of Honam neglect. The Honam Development Special Committee, which had promised special compensation, also remains in a state of suspended operation without results.
The "judgment of the Democratic Party" theory that began with the "Suncheon Son Hoon-mo incident," and the resulting "South Jeolla alienation" theory regarding administrative integration. Critics point out that this is something the arrogant Democratic Party must keep in mind.
Ki Woo-sik, policy committee chairman of the Gwangju Civic Organizations Council, pointed out, "If the Democratic Party only exploits Honam politics within a one-party monopoly structure, it will definitely be abandoned someday," adding, "I hope they remember that Honam's voting sentiment can pick up the switch again at any time."
Criticism aimed at Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae is at an even higher level.
The National Sovereignty Defense Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratic Citizens' Solidarity has been holding "Gwangju-Jeonnam Citizens' Rallies Denouncing Democratic Party Leader Jung Cheong-rae Who Suppresses Honam Politics" almost daily, calling for Jung Cheong-rae's immediate resignation as Democratic Party leader.
