On the 10th, Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party of Korea's chief general election director, aimed at North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who declared an independent run, saying, "Because an independent run constitutes a grave act against the party, it will be permanently impossible to be readmitted," and added, "If there are party members who help Independent Gov. Kim Kwan-young, that too is clearly an act against the party, so we will take strict action."
That afternoon at the National Assembly, Cho held a press briefing and warned, "There are cases where people who have been disciplined by the party and expelled, or whose party membership has been suspended and thus have no eligibility to run, run as independents or with other parties," adding, "These people say that if they are elected, they will seek readmission, but a public party is not a place you can come and go from at will."
Cho directly brought up Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who declared an independent run. Cho said, "Gov. Kim is making the absurd claim that (the party) tried to cut him off and slapped a rebellion frame on him; because this is clearly false, we will consider legal action."
He continued, "Would it be acceptable to North Jeolla residents that someone who has even served as governor and is himself a legal professional spouts such absurd sophistry?" and said, "If Gov. Kim runs as an independent, it not only constitutes refusal to accept the nomination process but, as a grave act against the party, will make readmission permanently impossible."
Regarding Gov. Kim, Cho criticized, "It is obvious to anyone that at a drinking gathering he had his own secretary bring a bag, took an envelope out of that bag, and told them to bring out money in certain amounts," adding, "He is making it seem as if this were planned as oppression by the Democratic Party leadership, but this is shameless."
Cho also pointed out cases where people who were disciplined by the Democratic Party or failed to receive nominations are running with the Rebuilding Korea Party. Cho said, "The same goes for those who leave the Democratic Party and go to the Rebuilding Korea Party," adding, "Those who refused to accept the party's nomination process and left the party—whether through a merger, integration, or individual admission—will not be erased in any form."