Woo Sang-ho "Jeon Jun-wi Primary Rules Considered Differentiation and Nationwide Party... Had Differences with Emergency Committee"

"Poll Cutoff Loses Discriminatory Power When More Than 10 Candidates Run"
"Emergency Committee Opinions Sometimes Not Accepted by Preliminary Committee"
"In-Depth Discussion at Party Affairs Committee on the 6th"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, explained that the committee's revision of the party convention preparation committee's 'primary election rules' was a decision made to secure differentiation and reflect nationwide public opinion. Regarding the final primary election rules, he stated, "We will fully listen to the opinions of the Party Affairs Committee."

During his visit to Gwangju on the 5th, Woo met with reporters and said, "(The Emergency Response Committee) had an in-depth discussion about the decisions made by the preparation committee," adding, "The reason the Central Committee decided to make 100% of the cut-off process decisions is due to concerns that securing differentiation is difficult when conducting opinion polls with many candidates, even considering precedent."

Regarding the highest committee member vote, where each person has two votes and one vote is forced to be cast by region, he said, "For several years, highest committee members from Honam, Chungcheong, and Yeongnam regions have not been able to enter the leadership," adding, "The party continues to decline into a metropolitan area party, and if members from Honam, Chungcheong, and Yeongnam cannot enter the leadership that must listen to nationwide public opinion ahead of the general election, there would be serious concerns, so this decision was made." He added, "This issue will ultimately be decided at the Party Affairs Committee meeting tomorrow, so we will fully listen to the party's opinions."

Woo also revealed that there had been differences of opinion between the Emergency Response Committee and the preparation committee. He said, "On the 3rd, there was a closed Emergency Response Committee meeting where former preparation committee chairman Ahn Gyu-baek, who resigned over the rule change issue, attended and had a discussion," adding, "At that time, differences of opinion were exposed, and at the preparation committee meeting on the 4th, they asked to convey the Emergency Response Committee's opinions. Some parts reflecting the Emergency Response Committee's views were included, and some were not decided. There is a difference in views between the two bodies, but it is not correct to say that the Emergency Response Committee ignored the preparation committee."

Woo emphasized, "There have been disagreements regarding rules related to the party convention and presidential primary elections," adding, "I see it as part of the process and will strive to collect the party's opinions as smoothly as possible to make a rational decision. We will have an in-depth discussion at tomorrow's Party Affairs Committee meeting."