The Democratic Party of Korea said it has not yet found any charges regarding Lee Won-taek, a preliminary candidate for North Jeolla governor, who faces allegations of "picking up the tab for meal expenses." Some in the party suggested delaying the main primary, but the party leadership decided to proceed with the North Jeolla governor primary as scheduled. The Democratic Party of Korea's North Jeolla governor main primary will be held from the 8th to the 10th.
Kang Jun-hyeon, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, met with reporters on the 8th during a field Supreme Council meeting at EXCO in Daegu and said, "The primary schedule for the North Jeolla governor candidate will proceed as planned," adding, "There was an ethics inspection regarding the recent issue, and so far, there have been no charges against candidate Lee Won-taek personally."
He added, "However, the inspection of North Jeolla Provincial Council member Kim Seul-ji, who was present at the alleged picking-up-the-tab occasion, will continue," explaining, "If other charges are found, we will take immediate and stern action."
Earlier, one outlet reported allegations that a third party picked up the tab for meals and drinks at a gathering hosted by the preliminary candidate. Council member Kim Seul-ji met with reporters at the North Jeolla Provincial Council the previous day and said, "The alcohol and meal expenses were paid with the council's operating business promotion expenses and out of pocket."
Through a statement, the preliminary candidate said, "The event at the time was a policy meeting at the request of young people, and it was not an event I hosted. I personally paid my own meal expense," adding, "This is clearly false information, and we will seek legal responsibility."
Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae ordered an emergency inspection by the party's Ethics Inspection Team the previous day after allegations were raised against the preliminary candidate.
Ahn Ho-young, the preliminary candidate competing against the preliminary candidate, also called for postponing the main primary. Ahn met with reporters at the National Assembly the previous day and said, "I conveyed to the party leadership the view that it is necessary to review the issue of postponement," adding, "Wouldn't it be an option to hold the primary after seeing the results?"