People Power Party Criticizes Democratic Party's Nomination Process for Candidate Hyun Geun-taek

The People Power Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter issued a critical statement on the 13th regarding the confirmation of lawyer Hyun Geun-taek as the Democratic Party's candidate for Yongin Special City Mayor, calling it an 'unvetted approval process.' The statement pointed out that Candidate Hyun has a history of being excluded from nominations due to past sexual harassment controversies, and in a case where he was indicted for alleged leakage of court records, the charges were dismissed due to procedural issues in the investigation, not an acquittal. The People Power Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter stated that the process by which Hyun Geun-taek was first excluded from nomination for the Seongnam parliamentary seat, then appointed as Vice Mayor of Suwon City, and finally selected as the Yongin mayoral candidate is difficult to comprehend. It criticized the failure to screen out a candidate whose remarks on semiconductor policy indicated a lack of understanding of the local economy, calling it a total failure of the nomination system. The People Power Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter added that there are criticisms that Yongin is perceived as a space for the political comeback of certain individuals.

The party emphasized that the Democratic Party has repeatedly increased the burden on citizens by causing by-elections due to past judicial risks and controversies, and that nominating candidates without clear criteria is far from the conduct expected of a responsible political party. The provincial chapter urged the Democratic Party to clarify its stance on nomination standards and responsible politics, which are crucial for the lives and future of Yongin City's 1.1 million citizens.

The Democratic Party of Korea has so far confirmed candidates for mayors and heads of seven local governments in Gyeonggi Province, including Yongin, Yangju, Gwangmyeong, Anseong, Pocheon, Yangpyeong, and Yeoju. The People Power Party has confirmed candidates for heads of 27 local governments in the province.