Democratic Party Membership Recruitment 'Rampant Evasion and Illegality'

Widespread Issues Including Providing Money for Membership, Recruitment Using Institutions, and False Address Entries

Ahead of the June 13, 2018 local elections, the Jeonbuk Election Commission is conducting an election promotion campaign.

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Ahead of next year's local elections, various illegal and illicit methods are rampant in the recruitment process of Democratic Party of Korea (Deobureo Minjudang) registered members in the Jeonbuk region.

Moreover, since only those who join the party by the end of this month can exercise their rights in next year's primaries, such illicit recruitment practices are expected to intensify.

According to local political circles on the 6th, the date for exercising rights for the Democratic Party's local election candidate nomination is March 1 next year.

In other words, those who join the party by August 31 this year, six months before the implementation date, and pay party dues at least six times will be granted the status of registered members with voting rights.

The Democratic Party's primary rules will be finalized by the nomination review committee in the future, but currently, securing registered members is key to winning the primaries.

Furthermore, in Jeonbuk, the pattern that winning the Democratic Party primary leads to victory in the general election is expected to continue in next year's local elections.

Accordingly, candidates preparing to run in next year's local elections are putting great effort into securing registered members, amid which various illicit and illegal methods that distort voter sentiment are rampant.

In Wanju County, there are allegations that an acquaintance A of a person preparing to run for county governor is providing money or goods while recruiting registered members.

It is said that after encouraging people around to join the party, if they accept, they are given 10,000 KRW in cash or Onnuri gift certificates on the spot.

According to Article 57 of the current Public Official Election Act, "No one shall provide money, goods, or other property benefits to primary election voters for the purpose of being elected or not being elected as a candidate in an intra-party primary."

Also, in Jeonju, rumors are widespread that B, who has expressed intentions to run for provincial governor, asked economic organizations to cooperate in recruiting registered members.

Since many general companies belong to these organizations, the executives reportedly requested securing 10 to 20 registered members per company.

In addition, there are widespread cases of falsifying addresses when submitting membership applications.

If it is the first time as a registered member, people are coerced into joining by being told they can exercise rights by moving their address to another electoral district.

This method, along with recruitment using public officials, is known as a "classic trick."

Currently, Articles 231 and 234 of the Criminal Act stipulate that "arbitrarily writing or submitting membership applications constitutes forgery or alteration of private documents."

Also, Article 82 of the Local Public Officials Act prohibits public officials from encouraging others to join a political party to support a specific party or candidate in elections.

Such illicit recruitment of registered members is expected to become more intense and sophisticated as the membership deadline approaches in about 20 days.

Above all, there is growing criticism that these recruitment practices hinder the selection of qualified Democratic Party candidates and provide the groundwork for local elections, which are meant to select regional leaders, to degenerate into chaotic and overheated contests, and thus should not be ignored.

There are also increasing calls for extraordinary measures at the Democratic Party level, along with guidance and crackdowns by the Election Commission.

A political insider said, "Due to the greed of some candidates who believe that winning the primary guarantees an easy victory in the general election, the Democratic Party's recruitment of registered members is becoming chaotic. This is a serious crime against not only party members but also the true voter sentiment of residents, so both the Democratic Party and the Election Commission must take active measures."

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr