"The people of North Jeolla will decide — and a win for me will strengthen the Lee Jae Myung government"

Kim Kwan-young, the independent candidate for North Jeolla Province governor, campaigns at the Lotte Department Store intersection in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, on May 21. [Yonhap]
Kim Kwan-young, the independent candidate for North Jeolla Province governor, campaigns at the Lotte Department Store intersection in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, on May 21. [Yonhap]

By Kim Do-yoon, The Herald Business

Kim Kwan-young, the independent candidate for North Jeolla Province governor, said Monday that Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae should step down if he wins the race. "If I am elected, it is only common sense that Rep. Jung take responsibility and resign," Kim said. He added that he would seek to rejoin the Democratic Party in September after working to replace the party leadership at its August convention.

Speaking on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Morning Focus" that morning, Kim said Jung had repeatedly tried to block him from receiving the party's nomination. He also rebuffed Jung's claim that a Democratic Party defeat in North Jeolla would put President Lee Jae Myung at risk, calling the argument "utterly groundless."

"The people of North Jeolla will make their own choice," Kim said. "If I am elected, the Lee Jae Myung government will in fact grow stronger."

On allegations that he paid designated-driver fees for others, Kim said he had drunk too much at a dinner with young supporters. He said he had urged those who had driven from distant areas — including Jeongeup, Gochang, Imsil, Gunsan and Iksan — to call a designated driver rather than drive home drunk. "Drunk driving is absolutely unacceptable," he said, describing that as the intent behind his actions.

However, he added that he had recovered most of the money shortly after sobering up. "Regardless of the circumstances, it was something I should not have done. It was my fault," he said.

Kim also rebuffed a recent remark by Democratic Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae, who suggested a by-election could be held for the North Jeolla governorship if Kim won and was later removed from office. "All legal proceedings are still ongoing," Kim said. "If anything, I believe the legal risk facing candidate Lee Won-taek is greater than mine."

Kim said Lee Won-taek faces allegations of having covered meal expenses using taxpayer money rather than his own funds. "The nomination process applied a blatantly different standard to me and to candidate Lee," he said.


kido@heraldcorp.com