The Democratic Party of Korea on the 1st expelled North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who is suspected of spreading "cash envelopes."
Chief spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun said late that night at the National Assembly after a closed Supreme Council meeting, "Circumstances of providing money and valuables were identified, so the Supreme Council members unanimously voted to expel Gov. Kim Kwan-young," adding, "The party's Ethics Inspection Team received the case in the morning, and the party leader ordered an inspection."
Kang added, "The Ethics Inspection Team also received an explanation from the person concerned in a question-and-answer format," and "The party leader and Supreme Council members said we are truly sorry to the people regarding this matter."
Secretary-general Cho Seung-rae said, "We told the head of the Ethics Inspection Team to also obtain a face-to-face or written Q&A from the governor, and as a result, a Q&A was conducted," adding, "As a result of the Q&A, he could not deny the allegations of providing money and valuables. Considering various circumstances, we judged it to be a clear illegal situation, so we decided to expel him by the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Council members."
He then noted, "The Democratic Party leadership also reached a unanimous view that we should convey to the people our regret for having caused disappointment."
Gov. Kim was accused in Nov. last year of handing out cash envelopes to city and county council members in North Jeolla and to the Democratic Party provincial chapter's youth members, in violation of the Public Official Election Act.
Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, after the allegations were raised that day, ordered an emergency inspection by the Ethics Inspection Team of the governor.
That day, Gov. Kim held an emergency press conference at the North Jeolla Provincial Government and said, "In late Nov. last year, after having dinner with young people in the province and after some drinking, I once paid the chauffeur fees for the youths," adding, "After paying, I felt uncomfortable and burdened, so I retrieved the money the next day."