2026 성남시장 경선: 김병욱 vs 김지호, 누가 승리할까?

[iNews24 Reporter Jeong Jae-su] On the 27th, Seongnam mayoral hopeful Kim Byung-wook said he will accept the Democratic Party’s Central Reconsideration Committee and Supreme Council decision to reverse his sole nomination and proceed with a two-candidate primary, even though those bodies had cleared the allegations involving his children.

He also welcomed the party’s warning that it would take strong action, including disqualification, if negative campaigning continues. “I will win back Seongnam — Lee Jae-myung’s political hometown — through a primary without negative tactics,” he said, and agreed to follow the party’s directive.

In a written statement, Kim said he accepts the Supreme Council’s decision “with a spirit of putting the party before personal interest to end internal strife and help ensure the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration.”

Kim said the Reconsideration Committee and the Supreme Council confirmed that the process producing his sole nomination complied with the party’s screening standards. They also found that the allegations about his eldest son’s real estate purchase—raised by a rival—were unfounded after re-examination by the committee and the party’s Integrated Verification Center.

He added that party leaders concluded a primary would better consolidate forces and improve competitiveness in the general election, so they voted to hold a two-candidate primary. The contest will proceed on the condition that candidates refrain from making unfounded accusations.

In a press release the previous day, the central party said, “The Reconsideration Committee accepted spokesperson Kim Ji-ho’s appeal and confirmed that the allegations concerning candidate Kim Byung-wook’s child were resolved based on the verification center’s checks. The Supreme Council then considered the situation comprehensively and decided on a two-candidate primary. However, if a candidate continues negative campaigning, the party will take strong measures, including disqualification.”

Kim said, “I have practiced dignified, above-reproach politics more than any other politician,” and stressed that his candidacy aligns with the party’s local-election selection principle of “Four No’s and Four Strengths.” He added that re-verification clearly confirmed there were no problems with his eldest son’s house purchase.

“Even so, I accepted the Supreme Council’s vote because I believe reclaiming Seongnam is a stepping-stone to the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration,” he said, noting that Seongnam is a symbolic city that has shaped South Korea’s political direction. He said he chose unity and responsibility over conflict.

He pledged to follow the wishes of party members and residents who call for victory through unity, and promised to validate today’s decision with an electoral win for Seongnam.

Kim Ji-ho, whose appeal led to the two-candidate primary, posted on Facebook that the decision “meaningfully demonstrated that fairness and principle still exist,” and vowed, “We will compete harder and cleaner. We will stage a dignified primary focused on who can do the job better, and for a winning Democratic Party, we will repay voters with a ‘best-performance’ competition.”