Gangjin County Mayor Kang Jin-won urged the Democratic Party leadership to grant him the opportunity to compete in the party primary.
At a press conference at the Puso Center in Gangjin-eup on the 10th, Kang said the Seoul Southern District Court granted an injunction suspending the disciplinary resolution and restoring his party membership rights. Despite that ruling, he said, the party has not allowed him to participate in the primary.
He called the situation highly unusual and accused the party of disregarding the spirit of the court's decision.
The dispute began last December, when the Democratic Party's Ethics Tribunal imposed a one-year suspension of Kang's party membership. A subsequent rehearing reduced the suspension to six months.
Kang's campaign says the disciplinary process was flawed. It argued that many people the central party organization labeled as illegal members were in fact legitimate party members, that some individuals recruited by others were wrongly attributed to Kang, and that the party refused to disclose the contested membership lists—making it difficult to verify facts or mount an adequate defense.
During the rehearing, Kang's team conducted its own checks and investigations focused on those who had been questioned during the original review, and submitted supporting documents to demonstrate that some members were properly registered.
After the party upheld the sanction, Kang filed for an injunction to suspend the disciplinary resolution at the Seoul Southern District Court on Jan. 30, and the court granted it on Feb. 26. The court concluded that, while some illegal recruitment may have occurred, the conduct did not justify the severe penalty of suspending party membership, which would prevent him from qualifying as a preliminary candidate.
Although the court's decision immediately restored Kang's party rights, his team says the Democratic Party took no steps to recognize him as a preliminary candidate. They also say the candidate interview for the Gangjin mayoral primary held on the 8th proceeded without him.
The campaign adds that the party repeatedly changed its rationale for excluding him: it first cited the dismissal of an injunction seeking to restore his preliminary-candidate status, then later sent a notice claiming the application period for candidate nominations had already closed.
Kang said it was \"highly unusual\" for the party to proceed with a primary without taking follow-up measures after the court suspended the disciplinary action. He urged the Democratic Party's executive committee to correct the situation and ensure a fair contest.
He added that this is not a personal matter but about whether county residents will have a fair opportunity to choose, and he called on Democratic Party leaders to act.
Several candidates have emerged in the race for Gangjin mayor, and recent polls place Kang near 50% support, keeping him in the lead.
