Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Song Eon-seok: "The Democratic Party Should Not Nominate Candidates in By-Elections Caused by Its Own Fault. Kim Yong's Run Is an Insult to Voters"

Input
2026-04-21 09:32:33
Updated
2026-04-21 09:32:33
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), speaks at a floor leadership strategy meeting held at the National Assembly area in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 21st. News1
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[Financial News] The PPP urged on the 21st that the Democratic Party of Korea should not field candidates in constituencies where by-elections are being held because of wrongdoing by Democratic Party lawmakers. It also said former Institute for Democracy vice president Kim Yong, who was convicted in both the first and second trials, should not run in the by-election.
At the meeting, Song Eon-seok said, "If the Democratic Party still has even a shred of conscience left, I strongly urge it not to nominate candidates in places where by-elections are being held because of its own fault, including Ansan Gap in Gyeonggi, Pyeongtaek-eul, and Gunsan City, Gimje City, and Buan County, North Jeolla A."
\r\nThe constituencies will hold by-elections on June 3 after former Democratic Party lawmakers Yang Moon-seok, Lee Byung-jin, and Shin Young-dae were each stripped of their seats.
Song also stressed that Kim Yong, the former vice president of the Institute for Democracy, should not be nominated either. Kim was sentenced to five years in prison in the first and second trials on charges of receiving illegal political funds. He is being mentioned as a possible candidate in areas such as Ansan Gap and Pyeongtaek-eul, because if the sentence is finalized in the third trial, another by-election would have to be held.
Song said, "A Supreme Court of Korea ruling is likely to come soon. If the Democratic Party nominates someone who is expected to lose their seat within a year at most, that alone would amount to a declaration that the party has no moral integrity." He added, "How can it be acceptable to nominate a criminal suspect convicted in the second trial in a district that is already holding a by-election because of illegal acts by Democratic Party lawmakers?"
He continued, "The district where Kim is running would have to hold a National Assembly election three times in four years because of the Democratic Party," and asked, "Is it acceptable to mock voters, waste taxpayers' money, and turn elections into a farce?"
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haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter