Daejeon Councilor Song Hwal-seop Seeks Re-election After First Trial Guilty Verdict; Women's Groups Urge Withdrawal

Daejeon City Councilor Song Hwal-seop, who was found guilty in the first trial on charges of sexual assault, is pushing ahead with his bid for re-election in the local elections, drawing criticism from regional women's groups.

The Daejeon Women's Organizations Alliance, in a statement, demanded Song's immediate withdrawal from the race, along with a sincere apology and remorse to the victim and the citizens.

The women's community criticized Councilor Song's actions, stating that his announcement of candidacy for re-election and subsequent campaigning, without public apology or remorse following the first-trial guilty verdict, constitutes secondary victimization of the victim and a disregard for the judiciary's judgment.