Kim Seop, Eliminated in PPP Yeongcheon Mayoral Primary, Says: "Ongoing Insults and Lawsuits Against Supporters... Arrogant Politics Must End"

Lee Manhee's Office Responds:
"Hearing About It for the First Time...
Will Monitor the Situation Carefully"

Lawyer Kim Seop, who was eliminated in the People Power Party's Yeongcheon mayoral primary, issued an official statement strongly criticizing the Yeongcheon City Party Committee and National Assemblyman Lee Manhee for the unfairness of the primary process and for the exclusionary treatment of his supporters.

[Photo by Kim Seop] Lawyer Kim Seop is preparing a statement.

On May 28, Kim released a statement titled "A Message to the Citizens of Yeongcheon and Members of the People Power Party Yeongcheon City Committee," saying, "I have silently endured countless speculations and insulting remarks, but I now believe it is only right to share my sincere thoughts with the citizens and party members."

He expressed deep shock and regret over the use of derogatory and insulting terms such as "riffraff" and "thugs" directed at citizens and party members who supported him during the recent primary.

Kim emphasized, "While I can accept criticism in politics, mocking citizens and insulting their character is not politics but arrogance," adding, "Party members should not be subjected to exclusion or insult simply because they supported a particular candidate."

He pointed out that party members are the true owners of the party, and that a political party should not become a private organization or a tool for personal allegiance.

In particular, Kim revealed the efforts he made to reconcile conflicts after the primary.

He mentioned that Mayor Choi Kimon of Yeongcheon had visited him dozens of times and demonstrated sincerity by incorporating his policies and pledges into city administration. He added that, despite his supporters’ demands for a strong response, he exercised caution to prevent divisions in local politics.

However, Kim strongly criticized the fact that the lawsuits and complaints filed against his supporters during the primary process had not been withdrawn.

He pointed out, "What those who supported me truly wanted was not political bargaining, but simply the withdrawal of lawsuits and complaints and a mutual pledge not to remain adversaries." He added, "As someone with a legal background, I believe politics that applies legal pressure on each other is making the local community sick."

Kim then directly addressed National Assemblyman Lee Manhee, posing three public questions.

Specifically, he asked: ▲Whether Lee can confidently say this primary was fair according to party guidelines; ▲Whether there was any sincere effort for party unity after the primary; and ▲Whether, instead of politics aimed at defeating opponents, there was ever an attempt to reach out a hand of reconciliation.

He stated, "An era in which politics is used as a means to fuel conflict, spread hatred and exclusion, and maintain power must come to an end," adding, "We need 'big politics' that is willing to embrace differing opinions, rather than politics that divides and suppresses through force."

Finally, Kim declared, "I will choose reconciliation over hatred, and reason over conflict until the end," appealing for the support and decisive judgment of Yeongcheon citizens so that corrupt bureaucrats will never again pollute Yeongcheon with bribes from contractors.

Meanwhile, The Asia Business Daily made several attempts to contact Assemblyman Lee Manhee for his response to Kim Seop’s statement, but was unable to reach him.

Kim Sooyong, an aide in Lee's office, responded to inquiries about Kim’s statement by saying he was "hearing about it for the first time," and, rather than giving a direct answer, added, "Well, we’ll have to see how things develop," declining to provide any further comment.

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