The Democratic Party of Korea rejected a retrial request filed by Rep. Ahn Ho-young, who had been a preliminary candidate for the North Jeolla governor. Earlier, Ahn applied for a retrial while calling for a reinvestigation of Rep. Lee Won-taek, who was selected as the North Jeolla governor candidate despite a "meal and alcohol expense third-party payment allegation."
Kang Joon-hyun, the Democratic Party senior spokesperson, said in the afternoon on the 14th at the National Assembly after a closed Supreme Council meeting, "We inform you that the Central Party Retrial Committee reported to the Supreme Council that, as a result of its review of candidate Ahn's retrial request, it was dismissed."
Asked, "What was the basis for the retrial committee's decision to dismiss?" Kang answered, "I cannot tell you that. I will tell you only the result." Kang, the senior spokesperson, also said, "The retrial procedure has ended."
Rep. Ahn demanded a reinvestigation into the allegation that a third party paid for meals and alcohol for candidate Lee Won-taek, who was elected North Jeolla governor, and even began a hunger strike in front of the main building of the National Assembly. In particular, Ahn emphasized that the process by which the party's Ethics Inspection Team reached a "no charges" decision for Lee was rushed.
On the 12th, Ahn said, "In Lee's case, they concluded in a short period that there were no charges; isn't it that people cannot accept this conclusion?" and added, "The inspection result ultimately gave Lee a clean bill of health that there was no problem. I think it was a wrong outcome that affected the primary."