Controversy Over 'Constituency Inheritance': Moon Seok-gyun, Son of Moon Hee-sang, Registers as Preliminary Candidate for General Election

Moon Seok-gyun, Standing Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, Gyeonggi Uijeongbu Gap, Book Concert / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Moon Seokgyun, the standing vice chairman of the Democratic Party for Uijeongbu Gap and son of National Assembly Speaker Moon Heesang, who was embroiled in controversy over 'constituency inheritance,' has registered as a preliminary candidate for the general election.

Moon, who previously announced his candidacy in the constituency where his father served six terms as a lawmaker, has faced criticism that he is inheriting the constituency from the Liberty Korea Party and former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon.

Moon registered as a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party in Uijeongbu Gap with the Election Commission on the 16th.

Earlier, on the 11th, Moon held a book concert to commemorate the publication of his book "The Son of That House" and declared his candidacy for the general election. At that time, he said, "I firmly reject the 'Dad's chance,'" adding, "Framing elected positions as hereditary is an insult to the public party and the citizens of Uijeongbu."

On the afternoon of the 13th, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, and Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader, among others, condemned the controversy over the hereditary succession of the constituency by Moon Seok-gyun, son of Moon Hee-sang, Speaker of the National Assembly, and standing vice chairman of the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Uijeongbu Gap district committee, at a members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, the Liberty Korea Party stated in a commentary, "All attendees mentioned Moon Heesang's name in their congratulatory speeches," and argued, "If he were not Speaker Moon's son, would so many influential politicians have attended Mr. Moon's event?"

Former professor Jin also criticized on his Facebook, saying, "If the current electoral district originally belonged to the father, then that is 'Dad's chance,'" and added, "Feudalistic bad customs have somehow come to be publicly accepted in our society."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party selected the Uijeongbu Gap constituency, where Moon registered as a preliminary candidate on the 15th, as a strategic nomination target. Strategic nomination means the party leadership selects the candidate without a primary election.