Democratic Party to Live Broadcast By-election as 'National Interview'

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the video policy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea will conduct a so-called 'National Interview' to select candidates for the upcoming April by-elections for the Seoul and Busan mayoral positions.

On the 27th, the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Recommendation Management Committee announced, "Departing from the previously private methods used by political parties, citizens and the public will directly participate in the interview process, which will be fully broadcast live for about 1 hour and 40 minutes starting at 7 PM on the 1st of next month (pre-broadcast at 6:30 PM) through the Democratic Party's official broadcasting station, Deli Minju TV."

Through various methods such as presentations (PT) where candidates present their policies and visions, self-introductions, common questions by electoral district, pre-submitted public questions, and real-time chat on-site questions, candidates will be thoroughly examined.

Pre-submission of public questions will be accepted for four days until the 30th via the Democratic Party's website. Anyone who is a citizen can ask questions and participate without any separate authentication process.

Questions unrelated to the interview, such as profanity, slander, requests for complaints, or support for specific candidates, will be excluded, and serial numbers will be assigned so that candidates can select and answer questions blindly.

Kang Seon-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said, "We welcome sharp questions that will put candidates on edge regarding various urgent daily life issues such as housing, transportation, education, welfare, safety, health, and environment in Seoul and Busan. We will nominate candidates who know policies, not candidates who engage in political strife. We will hold a harmonious primary where candidates compete beautifully, not a chaotic one."