Democratic Party to Hold All-Member Vote on By-Election Nominations Until Today... Results to Be Announced on the 2nd

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the on-tact party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th and is participating in the national ceremony. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Democratic Party of Korea is conducting a party-wide vote until 6 p.m. on the 1st to decide whether to nominate candidates for the by-elections for the Seoul and Busan mayoral offices next year. The Democratic Party plans to announce the final results after reporting to the Supreme Council meeting on the 2nd.

The Democratic Party has been conducting the vote online since 10 a.m. the previous day, targeting party members with voting rights and delegates as of the August 29 party convention.

This vote concerns a proposal to add a proviso to the party constitution clause that states, "If an elected official belonging to the party loses their position due to serious misconduct such as corruption, no candidate will be recommended for the by-election in that electoral district," allowing the nomination of candidates if decided by a party-wide vote.

Due to the sexual harassment allegations against former mayors Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don of the Democratic Party, which led to the by-elections for the Seoul and Busan mayoral offices next year, the party is seeking to amend this clause created by then-party leader Moon Jae-in in 2015, as it currently prevents nominating candidates. The Democratic Party cited reasons such as "responsible politics" and "voters' right to choose" for effectively changing its policy to nominate candidates.

The voting results will be reported to the Supreme Council on the morning of the 2nd and then announced. If the majority votes in favor, the Democratic Party plans to hold the Party Affairs Committee and Central Committee meetings to finalize the amendment of the party constitution. Subsequently, preparations for the official candidate primaries for the Seoul and Busan mayoral elections are expected to begin.