[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the nomination results of the United Future Party are being confirmed one after another in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, opposition movements are being observed mainly among the cut-off lawmakers. With the formation of conservative parties such as the Pro-Park Shin Party and the Korea Economic Party underway, there is also a possibility that those dissatisfied with the nomination results may switch their party affiliation to these parties or run as independents. When the nomination results for the Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam (PK), Daegu, and Gyeongbuk (TK) regions are announced, the nomination controversies are expected to intensify further.
On the 23rd, Lee Seok-yeon, Vice Chairman of the United Future Party's Nomination Management Committee, held a meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and commented on Rep. Lee Eun-jae's request for reconsideration, stating, "The Nomination Committee conducted the review through a fair and transparent procedure," and added, "We will review it, but it will only proceed according to the procedure," implying that it is practically difficult to accept the request. Earlier, the Nomination Committee announced the nomination results for Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, deciding to cut off several incumbent lawmakers including Yoon Sang-hyun, Lee Hye-hoon, and Lee Eun-jae, who are serving their second or third terms. Rep. Lee expressed her grievance, saying, "It is unfair to be excluded from the nomination without any explanation," and became the first incumbent lawmaker to request reconsideration.
Attention is focused on whether the dissatisfaction with the nomination, which had only been expressed behind the scenes until now, will surface due to Rep. Lee's request for reconsideration. Yoon, known as a "core member of the Pro-Park (Pro-Park Geun-hye) faction," was excluded from the nomination in the 20th general election but ran as an independent and was elected before rejoining the party. Accordingly, there is speculation that he might run as an independent again this time. Although Rep. Lee Hye-hoon has not directly expressed dissatisfaction, a photo was captured showing text messages exchanged between her and Rep. Yoo Seung-min, who was previously with the New Conservative Party, discussing the fairness of the nomination.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The announcement of the nomination results for the PK and TK regions, where the greatest noise is expected during the nomination process, has yet to be made. Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo was reportedly told by the Nomination Committee to "either run in Gangbuk or not run at all," but he ignored this and announced his intention to register as a preliminary candidate in Yangsan-eul. Vice Chairman Lee dismissed Hong's actions, saying, "This is unrelated to the Nomination Committee, and no decision has been made regarding this."
There are rumors about the formation of the conservative-leaning Korea Economic Party, and Rep. Hong Moon-jong, who was expelled from the Our Republican Party, is also expected to join the newly established Pro-Park Shin Party on the 25th. It cannot be ruled out that lawmakers who were cut off during the United Future Party's nomination process might join these new parties. In particular, the Pro-Park Shin Party has sufficient grounds to attract Pro-Park faction lawmakers, as it has announced plans to release former President Park Geun-hye's prison messages. Yoo Young-ha, a close aide to former President Park, is also expected to leave the United Future Party and join the Pro-Park Shin Party on the party's launch day, the 17th.
Meanwhile, independent Rep. Lim Jae-hoon, who left the Bareunmirae Party through a "self-expulsion," will join the United Future Party on the 24th. Rep. Lim is the third to join the United Future Party after Reps. Kim Jung-ro and Lee Dong-seop. Planning to run in Anyang Dongan-dong, Gyeonggi Province, Rep. Lim is reportedly planning to apply for nomination in the adjacent district, Anyang Dongan-gap.
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