This newspaper reported on the nomination-related party affairs and political activities of the chairman of the People Power Party's Goyang-gap District Chapter in an article titled "How Much Do You Need to Spend to Get Nominated... People Power Party's Goyang District Chapter Faces 'Membership Fee' Controversy" published on the local government page of the society section on April 16.
Regarding the portion of the report stating that "most of the approximately 10 attendees paid 1 million won in lifetime membership fees in connection with joining the policy research institute," it has been confirmed that out of 21 attendees at the joint meeting of the People Power Party Goyang-gap District Chapter operating committee members and branch chairpersons on January 26, only two paid lifetime membership fees on-site, and only one of the two registered as a candidate.
According to additional reporting by this newspaper, five more individuals paid membership fees after the meeting in late January.
Regarding the activities of the research institute, the Goyang-gap District Chapter chairman has stated that the institute operated from September 2023 to early 2024 and resumed activities from last September, which is before the start of local election nomination work, and therefore has no connection to the local election nominations.
The District Chapter chairman also stated that he has not engaged in any unfair practices, such as coercing prospective candidates to join as members or to run or not run in elections in any manner, and that he is handling all party affairs fairly as the District Chapter chairman.
This report is issued pursuant to mediation by the Press Arbitration Commission.
