People Power Party Nomination Controversy Over Chung Jinseok Intensifies... Ethics Committee Meeting Abruptly Canceled

Kim Taehum Warns of Leaving Party...
Chung Jinseok Considers Independent Run

Within the People Power Party, the conflict surrounding the potential nomination of former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jinseok for the Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang by-election in South Chungcheong Province is intensifying.

People Power Party's Park Deokhum, Chairman of the Party Nomination Management Committee, and the committee members are announcing the nomination results for the June 3 by-election constituency candidates, which were reviewed that day at the People Power Party Headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The party's Ethics Committee abruptly canceled the meeting scheduled for May 2 to review former Deputy Speaker Chung's re-admittance to the party. Both inside and outside the party, speculation is rising that the leadership may be considering excluding him from the nomination process in light of growing public backlash.

Former Deputy Speaker Chung has applied both for the nomination and for re-admittance to the party. The Ethics Committee had initially planned to deliberate on whether to make an exception for a candidate currently under indictment. There had been predictions that the committee would rule similarly to previous cases where exceptions were granted. However, with the meeting's cancellation, the entire nomination process is now seen as uncertain.

Internal opposition has also surfaced publicly. Kim Taehum, the gubernatorial candidate for South Chungcheong Province, issued a statement urging leadership to make a decision, warning, "If a nomination is made that does not meet the public’s expectations, I will not hesitate to leave the party."

Assemblywoman Cho Eunhee also joined the criticism, calling for the nomination to be reconsidered. Voices within the party have raised concerns about the possible loss of centrist voters.

Former Deputy Speaker Chung is pushing back, raising questions about procedural legitimacy. He stated, "The process was supposed to proceed with the Nomination Management Committee after the Ethics Committee’s decision, but since the meeting was not held, it is difficult to understand," demanding greater transparency in the nomination process.

He has also hinted at the possibility of running as an independent if he is not given a chance to compete in the primary, signaling that the conflict over the nomination is likely to escalate further.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.