Eonju Lee's 'Busan-bound' Controversy... Hwang Says "Should Show Beautiful Competition" to Crack Down on Nomination Noise

Lee Eon-ju Causes Party Turmoil Over Strategic Nomination in Busan Jung-gu Yeongdo
Lee Eon-ju vs Kim Moo-sung Verbal Clash... Yoo Seung-min Also Joins
Jang Je-won and Former Saebosu Party Members Pressure Kim Hyung-o for "Fair Nomination"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The United Future Party was embroiled in nomination controversies immediately after its launch. When rumors surfaced about Representative Lee Eon-ju’s strategic nomination for Busan Jung-gu and Yeongdo-gu, open dissatisfaction erupted within the party. As Representative Yoo Seung-min also joined in raising fairness issues, Chairman of the Nomination Committee Kim Hyung-o and even Party Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn stepped in to control the situation.

On the morning of the 20th, Leader Hwang held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly and targeted the internal nomination noise, saying, "This is a serious time when even the smallest noise can sound like a loud one." He emphasized, "In elections, competition not only with opposing candidates but also within our party is inevitable. Nevertheless, we must show beautiful competition in front of the ultimate goal of a landslide victory in the general election." He added, "There are forces eagerly waiting for our disputes and divisions. I will be cautious and careful first."

This statement is interpreted as a response to the nomination conflict becoming apparent after Representative Kim Moo-sung and Representative Lee engaged in a verbal dispute over Lee’s strategic nomination in Busan, followed by Representative Yoo expressing dissatisfaction.

In fact, within the party, Chairman Kim hinted at the possibility of a strategic nomination in an interview, saying, "It is unfair to force Representative Lee, who has never run in Busan before, to go through a primary," and Representative Lee also spoke as if he had received a definite answer, sparking controversy. Representative Kim Moo-sung, who declared he would not run in the district, opposed, saying, "The local vote will be divided. It is right to go through a primary," to which Representative Lee retorted, "Those who have declared non-candidacy should not interfere with nominations, which are under the jurisdiction of the Nomination Committee," escalating the conflict.

Representative Jang Je-won, who also has a constituency in Busan, joined the dispute. He criticized Representative Lee, saying, "Be cautious and refrain from reckless behavior," and added, "It is already controversial enough that he is abandoning Gyeonggi Province, where one seat in the metropolitan area is urgent, to come down to Busan, and it is regrettable that he is overestimating himself." Representative Jang warned, "If he is asked to create momentum in his own constituency of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, will he do so? Do not forget that the minimum conditions for victory are fair nominations and humility."

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Representative Yoo also expressed dissatisfaction, raising fairness issues regarding members from the New Conservative Party. He sent a text message to close aides saying, "Representative Lee avoids the tough district of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and receives a single nomination in Busan, Lee Hye-hoon is cut off, Ji Sang-wook and Min Hyun-joo have metropolitan area primaries, and Ha Tae-kyung has a primary. If this is the result, it violates fairness." This message was revealed when the text was caught by media cameras.

Ultimately, the core of the conflict seems to focus on whether there is preferential treatment. Those opposing the strategic nomination in Busan argue that since Representative Lee played a key role in the unification and is already a two-term member of the National Assembly, it is unfair to strategically nominate him in Busan, not in the relatively tough district of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. If the reasons for this are not convincing, it could become another source of division and conflict.

This is also directly related to the leadership of the 'Kim Hyung-o Nomination Committee' system. On the same day, Representative Jung Byung-guk said on a radio show, "I trust the Nomination Committee first, but if there is unreasonable discrimination, I cannot remain silent," and added, "I will watch the committee’s decision." For now, Chairman Kim denied, saying, "I did not mean it in the context of (strategic nomination for Busan Jung-gu and Yeongdo-gu)."