Won Hye-young "Im Jong-seok Should Run in the General Election... Moon Seok-gyun Will Be Decided According to Public Common Sense"

Won Hye-young, Chairperson of the Democratic Party's Nomination Management Committee, is delivering opening remarks at the first meeting of the Central Party Public Office Candidate Recommendation Management Committee held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Won Hye-young, the nomination committee chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, publicly requested on the 23rd that Lim Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President, run in the general election. On the other hand, regarding Moon Seok-gyun, the standing vice chairman of Uijeongbu Gap and son of Moon Hee-sang, the National Assembly Speaker, who has been embroiled in a 'nomination inheritance' controversy, she effectively demanded his voluntary resignation.

On the same day, Won appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and mentioned Lim, saying, "I think he should run himself, not just help with the campaign," and added, "For our party, losing such an important talent would be a huge burden."

She said, "I believe the party has considered enabling Lim to work and has also tried to persuade him," adding, "I think it is our party's responsibility to have him play an important role in this crucial election phase."

Regarding Lim's year-end declaration of retirement from politics, she stated, "I did not interpret it as retirement from politics but as a suspension of political activities," and explained, "Although I have not confirmed his intentions directly, I believe Lim would seriously consider if the party requests it."

When asked whether Lim's willingness to run had been confirmed, she replied, "I have not directly discussed or persuaded Lim," but added, "Everyone agrees that Lim should rightfully play a role and that the party should make such (persuasion) efforts."

Regarding Moon Seok-gyun, recently caught up in the local constituency inheritance controversy, Won said, "I understand the party has conveyed concerns to Vice Chairman Moon," and added, "I think a well-considered decision will be made based on public common sense and the party's election strategy." When asked if conveying concerns implied a request for voluntary resignation, she responded, "That should be considered included."

Won also reaffirmed the party's stance to keep the list of the bottom 20% of incumbent lawmakers confidential and notify them individually. She explained, "If this is made public, it would cause tremendous burden and harm to those individuals and would be like forcing them to run," adding, "If the opposing candidate in the general election says, 'That person was in the bottom 20%. What would that mean for our local voters if you elect them?' it would be tantamount to telling them not to run."

Regarding the circulation of an unidentified bottom 20% list in political circles, she emphasized, "Among the approximately 120 lawmakers in our party, it must be one of them. That part is correct," and stressed, "The rest cannot even be called 'fabrication.' Since this concerns personal honor, creating such lists indiscriminately without basis should be refrained from."