Kim Ki-hyun Alleges 'Public Office Deal' Suspicion Between Democratic, Progressive Candidates

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun's assertion of suspected public office trading in the Ulsan mayoral candidacy unification process between the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party immediately drew strong rebuffs from both parties. At a press conference held at the Ulsan City Council Press Center on November 26, Kim Ki-hyun claimed that following Democratic candidate Kim Sang-wook's announcement to halt the 'Democratic-Progressive candidate unification poll primary' on November 24, there are rumors that Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hoon was guaranteed a ministerial-level position in exchange for ceding the Ulsan mayoral candidacy to the Democratic Party. Kim added that this constitutes an act akin to selling public office and could fall under candidate bribery according to the Public Official Election Act.

Kim Ki-hyun raised suspicions that not only Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hoon himself but also his close associates could be offered executive positions in public enterprises, as well as leadership roles in public corporations and institutions. Kim recalled his prior warning that the Democratic and Progressive parties' candidate unification declaration was a 'backroom deal,' and stated that the current situation now involves allegations of 'selling public office.'

The Ulsan City Chapter of the Democratic Party criticized Kim's claims as 'baseless conspiracy and backroom deal framing' and filed a complaint with the police for spreading false information. The Ulsan City Chapter of the Progressive Party also described Kim's assertions as 'a shallow, low-quality tactic aimed at dividing the progressive-democratic forces' and announced plans to report the matter to the election commission and file a complaint/accusation with the prosecutor's office.