Nomination cutoff for 29 people, including former lawmaker Kim Seong-tae, points deducted for 3 or more terms in the same region applied without exception
People Power Party Nomination Management Committee Chairman Jeong Young-hwan (left) is speaking at the 4th meeting of the Nomination Management Committee held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 6th. Despite opposition from some senior lawmakers, the Public Relations Commission decided to apply the point deduction rule for ‘three or more terms in the same district’ to all districts without exception. News 1
“For our party to win the election, more people need to be more active and dedicate themselves.”
Han Dong-hoon, Chairman of the People Power Party’s Emergency Response Committee, said this while going to work at the company on the 6th, 65 days before the April 10 general elections. On this day, the People Power Party emphasized the victory in the ‘Nakdong River Belt’, where the Democratic Party of Korea is strong, and gave 5-term Rep. Seo Byeong-soo (Busan, Busan Jingap) and 3-term Rep. Kim Tae-ho (Gyeongnam Sancheong-Hamyang-Geochang-Hapcheon), respectively, and Democratic Party Rep. Jeon Jae-soo. (Busan Buk-Gangseo-gap) and Rep. Kim Doo-gwan (Yangsan-eul, Gyeongnam) to run for office. There is an interpretation within the party that this signaled a demand for senior figures from Yeongnam to run for office in difficult areas.
Former Presidential Personnel Secretary Lee Won-mo, who applied for nomination in Gangnam-eul, Seoul on this day, also said, “I only applied for nomination considering my connections to school, but I am well aware of the importance of winning the general election,” and added, “I will respect and unconditionally follow any party’s decision related to nomination.” He stated his position. Former Secretary Lee said in a phone call, “I will not insist on that region.” It is interpreted that he is suggesting that it is possible to run for office in a place other than Gangnam-eul, depending on the results of the nomination.
Chairman Han met with reporters at the company headquarters and said, “The way for the People Power Party to be chosen by the people is for many talented people and people with weight to participate in a very fierce competition.” Secretary-General Jang Dong-hyuk, who is in charge of nomination work, met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, “If the party’s senior leaders go to areas where it is difficult to win and make sacrifices, it could become another windfall in the election.” He added, “The ‘Nakdong River Belt’ is the most popular in Gyeongnam and Busan.” “It is important, and if we protect and occupy the Nakdong River Belt, it will be of great significance in this general election.”
Buk-Gangseo-gap in Busan and Yangsan-eul in Gyeongsangnam-do, where the two people were asked to run, are included in the nine constituencies in the Nakdong River belt in Busan and Gyeongnam and are classified as rough areas by the People Power Party. In both places, the Democratic Party was narrowly elected in the 20th and 21st elections.
Rep. Seo, who accepted the party’s request, will hold a press conference at the National Assembly on the 7th. Representative Kim Tae-ho said in a phone call, “I feel responsible for the party’s request to ‘become a bridgehead for victory in the Nakdong River Belt,’” but his attitude was, “I will think about it a little more.” A party official said, “We are opening up an ‘honorable exit’ by running for office in difficult places for senior members who are highly likely to be replaced in the region or for lawmakers whose results in public opinion polls and party audits are not good.” There are also predictions that former 4-term Ulsan mayor Kim Ki-hyun (Ulsan Nam) and 5-term lawmaker Kyung-tae Cho (Busan Saha-eul) are the next targets. One senior Yeongnam lawmaker protested, saying, “In the end, we are asking to give up the seat to a non-Yun (non-Yoon Seok-yeol) senior citizen in order to make way for someone who is pro-Yun (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol).”
Despite opposition from some senior lawmakers, the People Power Party Nomination Management Committee decided to apply the point deduction rule for lawmakers who have been elected to three or more terms in the same district to all districts without exception. This includes 23 people who have served three or more terms, including 5-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young, who served 4 terms in Suseong-gun, Daegu and moved to Suseong-gap, and lawmaker Lee Sang-min, who left the Democratic Party of Korea and joined the People Power Party. Their vote share is reduced by at least 15% during the primary.
Among the 849 applicants for nomination, the Public Officials Commission excluded 29 people, including former lawmaker Kim Seong-tae, who was found guilty on bribery charges, from the nomination review based on the ineligibility criteria. Former lawmaker Kim was found guilty by the Supreme Court in 2022 on charges of receiving a bribe by hiring her daughter as a full-time employee in return for silencing then-KT Chairman Seok-chae Lee from being a witness during the National Assembly audit in 2012. The ruling party set the criteria for ‘four major disqualifying corruptions’, including corruption in entrance examinations, recruitment, military service, and nationality.
Reporter Kwon Gu-yong 9dragon@donga.com
2024-02-06 18:00:00
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