Hong Joon-pyo: "25% Penalty Unfair... Nomination Rules Against Fairness Must Be Reconsidered"

Morning Top-Level Nomination Deduction Rule Decision Rebuttal
Pointing Out Fairness, Double Punishment, and General Election Competitiveness

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the People Power Party decided to impose penalties on independent candidates with prior independent candidacy experience and incumbent lawmakers running in the local elections, Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo rebutted, saying the nomination rules should be reconsidered.

On the 21st, Assemblyman Hong issued a statement saying, "Please reconsider the local election nomination rules that go against democratic principles and fairness."

He raised concerns about the fairness of the decision-making authority. Assemblyman Hong said, "A certain Supreme Council member who led the establishment of these nomination rules declared his own candidacy in the morning and immediately afterward attended the Supreme Council meeting to demand and enforce rules favorable to himself," adding, "It is unjust for a prospective candidate to set penalties against opponents."

He also argued that using prior independent candidacy as a penalty criterion constitutes double punishment. He stated, "Everyone, including our party members and the public, knows that the 20th general election nominations were private selections and reckless nominations, which led to a crushing defeat in the general election," and lamented, "Rehashing those flawed nomination processes and applying them to this local election is too harsh for those who have already suffered through the reinstatement process over the past one year and four months."

Regarding penalties for incumbent lawmakers running for office, he said there is no reason to apply them in regions where the party's dominance is certain. Assemblyman Hong explained, "Excluding competitive incumbent National Assembly members, it might just turn into a 'competition among the weak' and only weaken the competitiveness in the main election."

Assemblyman Hong argued, "In my case, both the independent and incumbent penalty rules apply, resulting in a hefty 25% penalty," and protested, "How can a fair primary be conducted when both my hands and mouth are tied like this?"