[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to select about 20 proportional representation candidates through a national vote. This measure follows the Central Election Commission’s interpretation that proportional representation candidates must be selected through a 'democratic process' rather than strategic nomination. The top two candidates in the safe winning zone for proportional representation will be assigned to women, persons with disabilities, and experts in diplomacy and security.
On the afternoon of the 20th, the Democratic Party held a party affairs committee meeting at the National Assembly to amend the party constitution and regulations, deciding to delete the provisions related to strategic nomination of proportional representation candidates. They also established a Proportional Representation Nomination Committee and approved its implementation rules.
Representative Woo Sang-ho, who will chair the Proportional Representation Nomination Committee, held a press briefing immediately after the party affairs meeting, stating, "From the 24th to the 26th, we will accept applications, conduct document interviews to narrow down the candidates in the first round, then further narrow them down through a national nomination review panel in the second round, and finally submit the results to the Central Committee for ranking votes to finalize the candidates."
The application process will be divided into restricted and general applications. The restricted application fields include four categories: women and persons with disabilities, diplomacy and security, vulnerable regions, and office staff party officials. General applications are open to any Korean citizen who meets the minimum age requirement for National Assembly candidacy.
The national nomination review panel will consist of Democratic Party members and general citizens who apply online. Applications can be submitted online from the 27th to the 4th. The panel’s online voting will take place from the 10th to the 11th. Based on the candidates who pass the national nomination review panel vote, the Central Committee will conduct the final vote to decide the proportional representation candidates.
Chairman Woo explained, "The final number of registered proportional representation candidates will be around 25," adding, "According to the party constitution and regulations, 60% of the candidates will be recommended as women." He also added, "At least 700,000 people are expected to participate in the national primary voting."
The ranking of the proportional representation candidates after voting will assign number 1 to women and persons with disabilities, number 2 to diplomacy and security experts, number 9 to vulnerable regions, and number 10 to office staff party officials. Chairman Woo explained, "While strategic nomination is abolished according to the party constitution and regulations, this design means that the necessary considerations will still be respected." However, the Democratic Party expects to secure 6 to 7 seats through proportional representation voting in this general election, about 10 seats fewer than before, due to the mixed-member proportional representation system.
When asked whether the implementation rules of the Proportional Representation Nomination Committee had received an official interpretation from the Election Commission, Chairman Woo replied, "We have not received an official document, but we have frequently received responsible interpretations through communication." He added, "The Election Commission’s intention was that the leadership should not unilaterally conduct strategic nominations, but it did not strictly define what constitutes a democratic process. It has been conveyed that the party should decide what democratic procedures are." Regarding whether property declarations, including for those owning two homes, will be required from proportional representation applicants, he answered, "This will be discussed later."
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