[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Liberty Korea Party completed the formation of the Public Office Candidate Recommendation Management Committee (Gonggwanwi), which will oversee the candidate nomination process for the April 15 general election, on the 22nd.
Kim Hyung-o, chairman of the committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly in the afternoon and announced the appointment of a total of eight committee members.
Among the incumbents, Secretary-General Park Wan-soo (ex officio) and Representative Kim Se-yeon, who declared he would not run last November, were included. Representative Kim had announced his withdrawal from the race, urging a strong reform equivalent to the party’s dissolution.
External members on the list include former Legislation and Judiciary Office Chief Lee Seok-yeon, Professor Lee In-sil of Sogang University Graduate School of Economics, Choi Dae-seok, Vice President for External Affairs at Ewha Womans University, Jo Hee-jin, lead attorney at the law firm Dambak, Research Fellow Eom Mi-jung at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, and Choi Yeon-woo, Vice President of Human Aid Post. Among the eight members excluding Chairman Kim, four are women. Vice President Choi is the youngest, born in the 1980s.
Regarding the principles for selecting members, Chairman Kim explained, "We focused on people who have lived fairly and are recognized for their roles. Secondly, we emphasized selecting individuals with profound insight and perseverance in their fields, who have strong convictions and determination." He also noted that the committee was composed of those who sympathize with innovative nominations.
He emphasized that there was no coordination with the party leader regarding the committee’s formation. Chairman Kim said, "Since I took the chairmanship, I have met the party leader once or twice, but there was not a single word about the nomination committee or its direction. I am grateful to Representative Hwang for maintaining mutual trust."
Regarding the Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee’s (Hyuktongwi) statement that the nomination committee members could be replaced, he said, "You will understand when you see the members. I did not take the chairmanship for the Liberty Korea Party but from the perspective of saving liberal democracy and electing parliamentarians for the people, and that was taken into consideration." Chairman Kim added, "I dare say we considered even what Hyuktongwi and the New Conservative Party could accept. Not only I but also the other members will work without personal interests, so we can speak confidently." Except for Secretary-General Park, none of the nomination committee members will run in this general election.
Chairman Kim also stated, "If anyone comes to me or the committee members from now on, they will face tremendous disadvantages. Until last night, I refrained from meeting anyone who came, but from today onward, those who come to see me should be prepared for disadvantages," reiterating his commitment to fairness.
The nomination committee will hold its first meeting on the morning of the 23rd. Chairman Kim said, "If the first meeting is held after the Lunar New Year holiday, the announcement period will be delayed by more than four to five days. It is already very late, but we will announce today and meet first thing tomorrow morning. We will work efficiently to save time." Regarding the timing of announcing the nomination rules or criteria, he said, "We will do it as soon as possible," but added, "I do not know exactly when that will be."
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