People Power Party Divided Over 'Reverse Selection Prevention Clause'... Is the War of Rules Beginning?

Lee Jun-seok "Will Give Instructions to Introduce" Gyeongjunwi "Should Not Include"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending a meeting of the party's presidential primary candidates held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 29th, delivering a greeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] There is a disagreement within the People Power Party regarding the application of the 'reverse selection prevention clause' during the presidential primary voting process. The Primary Preparation Committee has reached a consensus not to include the reverse selection prevention clause, but the party leadership has announced that they will instruct a review in favor of including the clause.

On the 29th, Seo Byung-soo, chairman of the Primary Preparation Committee, spoke to reporters immediately after a meeting with presidential primary candidates at the People Power Party headquarters. Regarding the application of the reverse selection prevention clause, he said, "After listening to experts' opinions and many committee members, it was said that it is not a matter to be greatly considered," adding, "Personally, I think it is reasonable not to include the reverse selection prevention clause."

He continued, "If we include the reverse selection prevention clause, isn't it like saying we want to hold the primary only with our supporters?" He criticized, "Then why bother including a general public opinion poll when you can just form an electorate and hold the election?" He further explained, "Isn't there a spirit of respecting and reflecting the opinions of the general public, including supporters of the Democratic Party and the Justice Party?"

On the same day, another committee member told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The majority of the members think that the reverse selection prevention clause should not be included."

However, the party leadership expressed a different opinion from the committee's stance and announced that they would instruct a re-examination. After the Supreme Council meeting on the same day, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, said that discussions about reverse selection prevention came up and stated, "Judging that the discussion on reverse selection prevention could affect the 8-person cutoff, I will instruct the Primary Preparation Committee to review the introduction of the reverse selection prevention rule."

This decision appears to reflect the positions of Lee and some Supreme Council members. On the 11th, Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, caused controversy by posting that he would support former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae after applying to participate in the Democratic Party's presidential primary voting. In response to backlash from the ruling party, he emphasized the problems of reverse selection by saying, "Wasn't it promoted that all citizens, regardless of party affiliation, could become the electorate and that 2 million people would vote? Didn't they say they were confident that the reverse selection effect would be minimal?" In support of Kim's argument, Lee also said, "If you inform us of security flaws in advance so that they can be fixed, you are a white hacker."