Lee Jun-seok to Introduce 'Nomination Exam' from June Local Elections
"Elitism," "Nomination Belongs to the People" - Opposition Within People Power Party
Experts Warn "May Restrict Political Entry of Certain Candidates"
Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting speech at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, has sparked a debate within the political circle after announcing that a 'qualification exam' will be introduced starting from the nomination process for the local elections in June next year. While some praise the move for verifying politicians' abilities and basic qualifications and ensuring fair evaluation, others criticize it as 'meritocracy'.
Experts say that strengthening verification in the preliminary nomination process is positive, but introducing an exam system could limit certain candidates' entry into politics.
Leader Lee has consistently stated during the party leadership election that the qualification exam will be applied from the local elections in June next year. On the 11th, he appeared on Channel A's 'News A' and said, "We need to nominate nearly 3,000 people for the local elections. Since it is difficult for the nomination management committee to verify all of them, we will have those who pass the qualification exam become public office candidates." He argued that candidates nominated by the party should have 'certain qualifications' similar to the National Competency Standards (NCS).
In a YouTube broadcast, Lee gave the example of Excel skills, saying, "Nowadays, among young office workers in their 20s and 30s, there is no one who cannot use Excel. Our party's elected public officials should have such abilities."
Regarding the exam method, he suggested, "Basic data interpretation skills, expression skills, computer utilization skills, and reading comprehension skills are required," adding, "We are not nominating the person who ranks first, but if you do not pass the basic qualification exam on the first attempt, you can try again after making efforts."
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party (left), and Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader. / Photo by Yonhap News
Opinions within the People Power Party were divided over this. On the 1st, Representative Joo Ho-young criticized Leader Lee, who emphasized 'fair competition,' saying, "Meritocracy and fair competition only for the winner are not the purpose of politics." Former floor leader Na Kyung-won also expressed opposition during the party leadership debate on the 8th, asking, "How will you create the qualification exam? Do you think politics is only about intellect?"
Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won criticized the qualification exam system as "fundamentally wrong in light of democratic ideals." In an interview with YTN Radio on the 17th, Kim said, "Being an elected official is a system where the people elect without relying on an exam system, and this is related to popular sovereignty, the foundation of democracy." He pointed out, "The nomination right itself belongs to the people, so introducing an exam system here is fundamentally inappropriate."
On the other hand, there are opinions that view the nomination qualification exam positively. Representative Ha Tae-kyung appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' on the 15th and said, "The purpose is to break away from the old politics where nominations were given through favoritism or connections," emphasizing, "Selecting party officials through fair competition is the new spirit of the times and the spirit of our party."
However, outside the party, reactions were generally lukewarm. Justice Party Representative Jang Hye-young wrote on her Facebook on the 11th, "I believe that fairness for Lee Jun-seok is not just giving everyone the same exam paper," adding, "I hope no citizen is left behind in that exam."
Youth Justice Party leader Kang Min-jin also said on the same day, "Competition that divides winners and losers and rewards them differently may be the principle of the market, but it cannot be the principle of politics that governs society," pointing out, "It is the state's role to protect the dignity of those who fall behind in competition, and meritocracy that does not correct disparities at the starting line is nothing but a means to conceal inequality."
Experts say that strengthening verification in the preliminary nomination process is positive, but introducing an exam system could limit certain candidates' entry into politics.
Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "Strengthening verification is good, but the qualification exam is somewhat excessive," adding, "A system where candidates pass if they score above a certain point and are cut off otherwise can prevent minority candidates from gradually increasing their support."
He continued, "Whether it is basic qualifications or anything else, it is the people who judge qualifications. The best way for the people to evaluate is through 'debate battles,'" adding, "Allowing the public to watch and judge the debate process and narrowing down candidates through public opinion polls seems most appropriate. In Leader Lee's case, if the party leadership competition had been conducted through a cut-off system rather than public opinion polls, he might not have advanced to the final party leadership election."
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