Democrats Appoint Ahn Gyu-baek as 'Strategic Official Residence Committee Chair'
"Considered Extensive Party Experience and No Faction"
Ahn: "Will Uphold Only Party Victory as Principle"
In next year's general election, Ahn Gyu-baek, a four-term veteran lawmaker classified as part of the 'Jung Se-kyun faction,' has been appointed as the chairman of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee, which will direct the Democratic Party of Korea's 'strategic nomination' policy. Upon his appointment, Ahn emphasized, "I will uphold only the party's victory as the sole principle."
Spokesperson Kang Seon-woo stated to reporters after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th, "The Strategic Nomination Committee will be formed 120 days before the general election, and Ahn Gyu-baek has been appointed as its chairman." Kang explained the background of Ahn's appointment, saying, "It is the result of a comprehensive consideration of various factors, including his extensive party experience, rationality, and lack of factional ties."
Ahn Gyu-baek began his political career as a member of the Peace Democratic Party, founded by the late President Kim Dae-jung. Although he is not strongly affiliated with any faction, some classify him as part of the 'Jung Se-kyun faction.' He successfully entered the National Assembly in the 18th general election in 2008 as number 14 on the proportional representation list of the United Democratic Party and has since been elected four times consecutively in the current Dongdaemun-gap district in the 19th to 21st general elections, establishing himself as a senior lawmaker.
'Strategic nomination' refers to selecting candidates for certain constituencies without holding primary elections. The decision to entrust Ahn with the strategic command of the general election is interpreted as the party leadership showing a certain will for unity. Given that Representative Lee Jae-myung personally chairs the Talent Recruitment Committee for the general election, filling the Strategic Nomination Committee chairmanship entirely with 'pro-Lee' figures could provoke backlash, so this move is seen as a strategic measure.
After the news of his appointment was announced, Ahn posted on his Facebook, "I will establish the most suitable strategy and recommend candidates for the party's victory, the restoration of democracy in the Republic of Korea, and the recovery of the people's economy." He added, "In accordance with the party constitution and regulations, I will diligently discuss with committee members to recommend the right talents to the right places, not just placing the right talents in the right places but placing the right talents where they are needed."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's constitution and regulations stipulate that the Strategic Nomination Committee must be established by a resolution of the Supreme Council. Based on the committee's review results, up to 20% of all constituencies can be designated as requiring special consideration for election strategy. According to the party constitution and regulations, strategic nomination target areas include constituencies that contain candidates excluded based on evaluations by the Elected Officials Evaluation Committee, constituencies with candidates excluded following verification by the Public Election Candidate Verification Committee, vacant constituencies due to decisions by the Non-Candidacy and Accident Committee, vacant constituencies due to electoral district division, constituencies where candidates have significantly low competitiveness in the general election, and constituencies that were previously lost despite being strongholds.
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