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Kim Tae-heum, governor of South Chungcheong Province, said he would leave the People Power Party if the party nominates Jeong Jin-seok, the former presidential chief of staff, for the Gongju–Buyeo–Cheongyang by-election.
On the 2nd, Kim posted a statement on his social media titled “A Notice to the People Power Party.” He sharply criticized the party leadership over the by-election nomination process, saying the ongoing effort to nominate former Chief Jeong has left him deeply dismayed.
Kim urged the public not to forget the “miserable and bleak” period that followed the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which he said lasted a year and a half, and warned, “Now is the time to break the yoke and chains we have borne.” He called on party leaders to make decisions grounded in common sense and universal principles and to heed the public’s voice.
He added that he loves the People Power Party and is willing to shoulder its past mistakes, but warned that if actions contrary to the national conscience continue without reflection and restraint, he will have no choice but to leave the party. He said he hoped such an unfortunate outcome could be avoided.
The governor’s public rebuke is a rare instance of a sitting regional chief openly challenging his party’s nomination process. The remarks are likely to fuel internal controversy and focus attention on Kim’s next political moves.
Earlier, when rumors first surfaced that Jeong had applied for the nomination, Kim reportedly told associates off the record that if Jeong ran in the by-election, he would quit the party and even withdraw his own candidacy.
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