TK·PK 'Mul-gari' Finally Achieved by Gonggwanwi... Renewal Accomplished but Concerns Over Vote Splitting Remain

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As of the 7th, the nomination process of the United Future Party has entered its final stage, and as promised by the Kim Hyung-o Nomination Committee, an innovative nomination was achieved by replacing more than 50% of candidates in Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) and Busan-Gyeongnam (PK). Despite opposition from senior members, Kim, the chairman of the nomination committee, succeeded in leading the current members to declare they would not run, demonstrating his steadfast determination. However, concerns arise over vote splitting in the stronghold regions of TK and PK due to continued resistance from senior members.

On the 7th, the United Future Party's nomination committee announced results including the two constituencies in Pohang, where incumbent Park Myung-jae, a two-term lawmaker from Pohang Nam-Ulleung, was cut off (excluded from nomination), and incumbent Kim Jung-jae from Pohang Buk-gu is undergoing a primary. Announcements were also made for regions such as Seoul and Gyeonggi. With the TK region results announced the previous day and the remaining Pohang results now out, the rate of incumbent replacement in the TK region, including five who declared they would not run, reached 55%. The replacement rate, initially at 61%, slightly decreased as Kim Jae-won, who was previously reported to be cut off in the district, is now contesting a primary in Seoul Jungnang-gu.

In the PK region, including proportional representatives, four incumbent lawmakers were cut off, and including ten who declared they would not run, the cut-off rate among 26 incumbents reached 54%. The committee also decided to exclude former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Tae-ho and former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo, who insisted on running in their hometowns. Chairman Kim's plan for large-scale replacement has been realized to some extent. On January 31, the nomination committee agreed to introduce 'regional cut-offs' and set the replacement rate in PK and TK regions at 50-60%. This rate is higher than the one-third cut-off and over 50% replacement of incumbents announced earlier by the general election planning team.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The replacement process was by no means easy. Targeted TK lawmakers openly expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Is TK a punching bag?" In particular, Supreme Council member Kim Soon-rye publicly criticized, saying, "I was used as a sacrificial tool under the guise of innovation," and "Those who devoted themselves to the party are being driven out like lowly servants," eventually leaving the party to join the Liberty Republican Party. Some presidential hopefuls within the party refused the nomination committee's requests and acted independently. However, Chairman Kim overcame these disturbances and resolutely wielded the nomination knife.

However, the problem is that the decisions of the Kim Hyung-o nomination committee, which advocated for 'winning nominations,' may cause vote splitting in the TK and PK regions. This is due to the successive independent candidacies of those cut off. Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Tae-ho is determined to run in his hometown as an independent despite being cut off, and five-term lawmaker Lee Ju-young has also hinted at running as an independent. Former leader Hong Joon-pyo announced he would hold a press conference at his campaign office in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the afternoon of the 9th. If Hong declares an independent run, it is expected that independent candidacies will also emerge in the TK region.