Pro-Jung Chung-rae Supreme Council Candidates Call for Kim Min-seok to Step Down

[Financial News] Supreme Council candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who are aligned with former party leader Jung Chung-rae on the 22nd called on Kim Min-seok, a pro-President Lee Jae-myung contender for party leadership, to withdraw his candidacy. They were responding to Kim's claim that Shincheonji had interfered in the race.
At a preliminary primary joint speech event for party leadership candidates on the 20th, Kim said, "The essence of this party convention is to break the three-way secret alliance of anti-Lee Jae-myung forces, divisive elements and Shincheonji." His remarks were read as suggesting that, just as Shincheonji members allegedly joined the People Power Party in large numbers and influenced its convention outcome, similar anti-Lee Jae-myung forces could emerge within the DPK.
At a press conference at the National Assembly on the 22nd, Supreme Council candidates Han Min-soo, Lee Sung-yoon and Choi Min-hee, who are classified as pro-Jung, said Kim's claim had no basis and demanded an apology and a voluntary withdrawal.
Han said, "The People Power Party is under investigation over the Shincheonji allegations, including a raid on its membership roster. Kim's claim is effectively saying that the DPK should also be investigated," adding, "Are you trying to portray the DPK, the party you belong to, as an unconstitutional party that violates the separation of religion and state just to gain an advantage in your own election?" He then urged Kim to "apologize immediately and step down."
Lee said, "During Jung Chung-rae's time as party leader, he strongly pushed for the introduction of a special counsel investigation into Shincheonji. At the time, because several special counsel probes were underway, there was a shortage of dispatched prosecutors, so a joint police-prosecutors task force handled the investigation," adding, "Kim, who was prime minister at the time, should know this well. If you cannot present evidence, apologize and withdraw your candidacy."
Choi said, "This is not something that can simply be brushed aside. Are you saying the DPK is running its primary while violating the Constitution and being entangled with religion?" She added, "The DPK should require Kim to present evidence, and if there is none, it should take party-level action against him."

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter