[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Gong Byung-ho, the Future Korea Party’s nomination committee chairman, presented criteria on the 27th stating that even lawmakers from the United Future Party who declare they will not run or who are excluded from nominations can be subject to proportional representation nomination screening if they do not fall under disqualification reasons.
Chairman Gong made this announcement at the National Assembly Press Hall in the afternoon, marking the launch of the nomination committee. The Future Korea Party is a satellite party for proportional representation of the United Future Party and decides on proportional representation candidates.
Regarding Representative Han Seon-gyo’s statement that those who leave the United Future Party due to non-candidacy or nomination exclusion would be fundamentally excluded from nominations, Gong gave a differing interpretation, saying, “If they meet our nomination screening criteria, they can be subject to screening.” He added, “If they fall under disqualification reasons, they will be excluded, but if they have not committed illegal acts such as crimes, they can be subject to screening upon application.”
However, he said, “Because they come after declaring non-candidacy, it should be interpreted to mean that receiving a nomination is practically impossible.”
Regarding the nomination committee’s composition, excluding Secretary-General Jo Hun-hyun and consisting entirely of external members, Gong said, “This is to avoid misunderstandings about strategic nominations,” emphasizing, “We will conduct fair, impartial, and constructive nominations based on three directions: fairness, public welfare, and putting the public interest first.”
He set standards to thoroughly exclude those involved in bribery, tax evasion, real estate speculation, illegal donations, drunk driving, and admission scandals. Furthermore, he stated the criteria for proportional representation selection would include ▲those who have left notable achievements in their fields ▲those who can significantly contribute to vote acquisition ▲those who will not lose in party struggles or ideological conflicts ▲and economic players well-versed in the real economy rather than just economic policy or theory experts.
Chairman Gong said, “We plan to present proportional representation candidates around mid-March as the deadline,” adding, “We will communicate with the Election Commission to carry out a model candidate selection process that fully complies with legal and procedural legitimacy. We will also do our best to implement voting procedures through delegates and party members as the electorate.”
He emphasized, “The party’s nomination committee is an independent organization from the United Future Party,” stating, “Although it is a sister party, it is legally independent, and the nomination committee is strictly separated. Since my inauguration, I have never met or contacted the United Future Party’s nomination committee chairman even once, so it is completely separate.” Regarding talents recruited by the United Future Party, he said, “Even if they are talents recruited by the United Future Party, we cannot accept them unconditionally. They must go through the application process,” adding, “It is best not to expect any special treatment, discrimination, or preferential treatment.”
Regarding the order of proportional candidates, Chairman Gong said, “We will carefully consider vulnerable groups, national defense, diplomacy, security, and economic revitalization until the very end to see what the people want.”
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