The Democratic Party of Korea said it would leave it to the public to judge the "gapjil controversy" and the "defending sex offenders controversy" surrounding Kim Yong-nam, the party's candidate running in the Pyeongtaek B by-election for the National Assembly in Gyeonggi. The party suggested it is impossible to conduct another party-level vetting now that candidate registration has already been completed.
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, said at a press briefing at the National Assembly on the morning of the 19th regarding the allegations against Kim, "It is physically impossible to conduct verification again when candidate registration has been completed," adding, "Now we have to leave it to the public to judge."
Kang added, "We must refrain from negative campaigning that goes, 'say it and forget it,' or 'just lob it and see,'" and said, "I think the candidate's camp should respond diligently, or if it's not worth responding to, they don't have to."
The chief spokesperson also mentioned the timing of media reports about Kim. Kang said, "Is it right to run the story (about Kim's alleged gapjil) with only 15 days left at the very end of the race?" and added, "It's already been two to three months since Kim entered the race; why didn't they look into it back then?"
Kang continued, "It is not possible at this point for the party to strip a candidate over a grave disqualifying reason," and said, "I don't know whether the allegations are true or false, and I hope Kim responds well."
That day, one outlet reported allegations that Kim assaulted and verbally abused his staff when he was a first-term lawmaker with the Saenuri Party. There were also allegations that Kim, who worked as a lawyer for about a decade in the past, defended sex offenders.
Appearing on MBC Radio that morning, Kim addressed the staff gapjil controversy, saying, "It appears there are somewhat exaggerated aspects regarding the facts," and added, "I even question whether it is correct to describe it as assault."
Kim's side also said in a statement, "Our camp's working-level staff and volunteers have been with the candidate from as recently as a few days ago to as long as 12 years," adding, "During that time, no one has experienced or witnessed from the candidate any violence, abusive language, or coercive behavior as depicted in the reports."
They continued, "Even amid the recent string of negative attacks, Kim has not responded emotionally, has maintained composure, and is running the camp based on reasonable and common-sense principles," adding, "If anyone inside this camp, in any form, were to engage in the kind of unjust behavior reported, we would not remain silent but would immediately raise the issue and set it right to protect our 'comrades' and 'colleagues.'"