"Yoon's Opinion on Nominations?" Ruling Party Leadership Election Rekindles Party Affairs Intervention Debate

Kim: "Not Interfering in Nominations, Just Hearing the President's Opinion"
Ahn: "Kim, a Candidate Who Could Endanger the President"

The controversy over presidential interference in party affairs, sparked by discussions such as the 'nomination of an honorary party leader,' was also mentioned in the third TV debate for the People Power Party (PPP) leadership election. This arose when candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, running for the PPP party leader position, criticized candidate Kim Ki-hyun's recent statement that he would "consult with President Yoon on nominations."

On the 22nd, during the debate, candidate Ahn pointed at candidate Kim, saying, "As a former judge, you are making a very dangerous statement," and added, "Discussing nominations with the president could pose legal issues." He argued that discussing nominations with the president contradicts the intent of Article 7 of the Constitution, which mandates political neutrality for public officials. Ahn further criticized Kim, saying, "Kim is a dangerous candidate who repeatedly makes risky remarks that could put the president in jeopardy."

In response, candidate Kim said, "It is an absurd interpretation to claim that the president discussing party issues and engaging in debate violates the political neutrality of public officials," but clarified, "I said I would listen to the president's opinion, not consult with him." He explained that the intention was merely to communicate with the president and the ruling party about policy and party management direction, not to imply interference in nominations.

Previously, the 'nomination of an honorary party leader' idea, which emerged from some quarters within the ruling party, faced similar criticism. Article 7 of the PPP party constitution states that "a party member elected as president may not hold any party office other than honorary positions during their term."

Since the party constitution allows holding party offices only in honorary positions, the nomination of an honorary party leader is possible. However, if this occurs following the ongoing 'Yoon's mind' (尹心) controversy shaking the entire party convention, it could reinforce the impression that the president is interfering in party affairs.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The problematic aspect of candidate Kim's remarks is that they could be interpreted as implying presidential interference in nominations. The People Power Party already has a painful history of former President Park Geun-hye's interference in nominations during its predecessor, the Saenuri Party.

In 2018, former President Park Geun-hye was sentenced to two years in prison for interfering in the Saenuri Party's nominations during the 20th general election. She was prosecuted for conducting opinion polls through then Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hyeon Ki-hwan to ensure pro-Park figures received nominations and for devising their election strategies. According to Article 9 of the Public Official Election Act, public officials must not exercise undue influence on elections or engage in actions affecting election results.

On the 23rd, Ha Tae-kyung, a PPP lawmaker, commented on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' that candidate Kim's remarks were a "typical slip of the tongue," adding, "The president has a duty of neutrality in party affairs. There were issues with former President Park's interference in nominations, and the public views it as highly inappropriate." While candidate Kim would not be punished for merely saying he would consult with the president on nominations, Ha advised greater caution in such statements.

In response to the ongoing controversy, pro-Yoon factions argue that it is not 'interference in party affairs' but 'cooperation in party affairs.' They claim that, according to the PPP party constitution, which requires the ruling party to faithfully support the government, 'party-government separation' is less appropriate than 'party-government unity' or 'party-government harmony.'

The People Power Party has a history of conflicts between the president and the party leader over nominations, which contributed to election losses, known as the 'Ok-swae incident.' Ahead of the 20th general election in 2016, then Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung clashed with the pro-Park faction over nominations and subsequently withdrew to Busan.

On the 20th, Yoon Hee-seok, the public relations chief of Kim Ki-hyun's campaign, emphasized on YTN Radio's 'Issue & People' that "During the 20th general election, the conflict between former President Park and former leader Kim Moo-sung caused a major upheaval in the nomination process, ultimately leading to election defeat," and stressed, "Candidate Kim, who communicates smoothly with the president, should become the party leader."