Hwang Jin-taek, a preliminary candidate for mayor of Anseong representing the Democratic Party of Korea, held an emergency press conference on March 13 to raise concerns about fairness after the party suspended its internal candidate suitability poll.
He demanded a clear explanation from the party's national headquarters and the Gyeonggi provincial party chapter, calling the sudden suspension \"a serious matter that undermines the fairness and credibility of the primary process.\"
\"The suitability poll is a crucial step to narrow the field of candidates for the party primary and to assess their competitiveness for the general election,\" he said. \"The responsible authorities must clearly explain why such a critical process was abruptly halted and outline their plans going forward.\"
He also alleged that some public officials and political figures may have expressed support for a specific candidate during the polling period, and he urged that any improper actions compromising election neutrality be thoroughly investigated.
After the press conference, Hwang said he would appear live at NewsFreeZone's Southern Gyeonggi bureau studio to present evidence and set out his position on the poll suspension and the related fairness concerns.
\"Elections—the flower of democracy—must be decided by voters through fair competition,\" Hwang said. \"We need a fair primary that Anseong citizens and party members can accept.\"
