Reduction of Nomination Screening Fees for Youth, Disabled, and Basic Livelihood Security Recipients
"Aiming to Discover New Political Talents and Promote Political Participation of Socially Vulnerable Groups"
Applications Open from the 2nd, Nominations Accepted from the 4th
Kim Haeng, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Local Election Nomination Management Committee, is holding a briefing on current issues at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 1st. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] On the 1st, the People Power Party decided to exclude candidates who run for the same constituency more than three times and lose from nomination in the upcoming June 1 local elections. They also plan to reduce the nomination screening fees for youth under 45, persons with disabilities, national veterans, and basic livelihood security recipients, and to give additional points to political newcomers. After a three-day public recruitment starting on the 2nd, nominations will be accepted from the 4th.
Kim Haeng, spokesperson for the People Power Party’s Nomination Management Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, “In all electoral districts, candidates who have run more than three times and lost more than three times in the same constituency will be excluded from nomination,” and “For basic council candidates, it is prohibited to recommend the same candidate for the ‘Group A’ category three consecutive times.” This aims to abolish the party’s vested interests of existing candidates and actively discover political newcomers.
He also announced plans to apply additional points to political newcomers and socially disadvantaged groups to encourage their political participation. Spokesperson Kim said, “Among metropolitan government head candidates, political newcomers will receive an additional 10% of points, and among basic government heads and metropolitan/basic council members, political newcomers, youth, women, persons with disabilities, and national veterans will receive an additional 20% of points.” Political newcomers refer to those with no prior experience running for public office, and even those with experience as appointed high-ranking officials will be considered newcomers if they have no prior candidacy. However, party district chiefs will be excluded from the newcomer category as part of relinquishing vested interests, even if they have no prior candidacy.
Additionally, nomination screening fees will be reduced by 50% for youth under 45, persons with disabilities, national veterans and their spouses or direct descendants, and basic livelihood security recipients. Spokesperson Kim emphasized, “We had in-depth discussions to create reform nominations,” adding, “We focused on discovering capable and fresh political newcomers and lowering the barriers for political participation of socially disadvantaged groups.”
The People Power Party will accept nominations by public recruitment for three days starting on the 2nd, and from the 4th, nominations will be accepted through the central party and nationwide city and provincial parties for each electoral district. For metropolitan government heads, nominations will be accepted until the 6th, and for basic government heads and metropolitan/basic council members until the 8th, after which screening will begin. Considering the importance of the metropolitan government head election, a primary will be held around mid-month, and nominations will be finalized by the end of the month.
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