People Power Party Nomination Management Committee Launched... Chairman Kwon Young-se, 7 Members Including Lee Cheol-gyu and Park Sung-min Appointed

Detailed matters such as strategic nomination decisions are referred to the Public Office Committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party is launching a Nomination Management Committee to prepare for the March by-elections for National Assembly members.

On the morning of the 24th, the People Power Party held a closed Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly and approved the composition of the Nomination Management Committee. Senior Spokesperson Heo Eun-ah told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, "Today, we appointed the chairman and seven members of the Nomination Management Committee for the March 9 by-elections," adding, "The committee is being launched today." The chairman of the Nomination Management Committee is Kwon Young-se, who also serves as the head of the election countermeasures headquarters and secretary-general. The members appointed include Lee Cheol-gyu, vice president of strategic planning; Park Seong-min, vice president of organization; lawmakers Im I-ja and Kim Seung-su; Ji Sang-wook, director of the Yeouido Research Institute; and Park Myung-ho, professor of political science and diplomacy at Dongguk University.

At the meeting, the Supreme Council also approved changes to the qualifications for responsible party members. For this by-election only, an additional clause was added stating that those who pay party dues equivalent to three months of dues for their position according to party regulations and who have completed the party admission procedures according to the party constitution and rules will be granted responsible party member status when applying for public office candidacy. Party leader Lee Jun-seok explained, "This is revised every election to allow people like recruited figures to join."

However, specific matters such as strategic nominations were deferred to the Nomination Management Committee to be launched later. Spokesperson Heo responded regarding strategic nomination issues, "Several proposals were discussed yesterday, but the details will likely be finalized by the Nomination Management Committee."

Additionally, the Supreme Council discussed prohibiting election campaigning activities such as wearing election sashes, installing banners, and sending text messages for preliminary candidates in the local elections scheduled for June. Spokesperson Heo explained, "We agreed to ask preliminary candidates to refrain from promoting their own elections," adding, "Since presidential candidates are campaigning, having preliminary candidates wear their badges and take photos was judged not to be helpful for our election."