(LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK (ATTN: UPDATES with governor's Facebook post in paras 6-7) SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- A court on Wednesday dismissed an injunction request by North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Southern District Court in the capital on April 7, 2026. (Yonhap) hague@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Police raid North Jeolla governor's office in cash-handout scandal DP expels North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young over cash-handout allegations Keywords #court #North Jeolla governor Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S. Korean road lined with cherry blossoms prev (LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion Next (LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion

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OK
(ATTN: UPDATES with governor's Facebook post in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- A court on Wednesday dismissed an injunction request by North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young to suspend his expulsion by the ruling Democratic Party.
Kim was expelled from the party last week amid allegations that he handed out cash to 20 people, including local council members and public servants, at a restaurant in Jeonju, about 190 kilometers south of Seoul, last November.
The governor, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming June local elections, filed for an injunction against the expulsion, as well as an injunction to suspend the primary race for the North Jeolla governorship.
But the Seoul Southern District Court dismissed both requests Wednesday, saying that based on the submitted documents, it is difficult to conclude the party's measure was procedurally unlawful or excessively harsh.
With the dismissal of the injunction against party expulsion, it is also difficult to grant an injunction to suspend the primary race, the court said.
Kim expressed regret in a Facebook post, saying that while he humbly accepts the court's decision, he is "heavy-hearted" that his participation in the primary has been restricted without a chance to fully explain himself.
"I once again deeply regret the fact that there was a moral inappropriateness in my behavior," he wrote. "Though the party's door has been shut for now, my aspirations and responsibility toward the future and people of North Jeolla cannot be stopped."
Kim has said he handed out a total of 680,000 won (US$450) to the 20 people, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 won per person, to use as chauffeur fees after drinking together, and that he retrieved the money the next day because it was inappropriate.
North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Southern District Court in the capital on April 7, 2026. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
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(LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion
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(LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- But the Seoul Southern District Court dismissed both requests Wednesday, saying that based on the submitted documents, it is difficult to conclude the party's measure was procedurally unlawful or excessively harsh.
- With the dismissal of the injunction against party expulsion, it is also difficult to grant an injunction to suspend the primary race, the court said.
- Kim Kwan-young over cash-handout allegations Keywords #court #North Jeolla governor Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- Kim expressed regret in a Facebook post, saying that while he humbly accepts the court's decision, he is "heavy-hearted" that his participation in the primary has been restricted without a chance to fully explain himself. "I once again deeply regret the fact that there was a moral inappropriateness in my behavior," he wrote. "Though the party's door has been shut for now, my aspirations and responsibility toward the future and people of North Jeolla cannot be stopped." Kim has said he handed out a total of 680,000 won (US$450) to the 20 people, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 won per person, to use as chauffeur fees after drinking together, and that he retrieved the money the next day because it was inappropriate.
- Kim Kwan-young over cash-handout allegations Keywords #court #North Jeolla governor Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.
- Korean road lined with cherry blossoms prev (LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion Next (LEAD) Court dismisses North Jeolla governor's injunction request over party expulsion

### Expert Commentary
This article covers north, jeolla, korea topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 595.