[Opinion] The Democratic Party's 'Blind Qualification' Verification

"If the trio involved in sexual misconduct allegations appear to be leading the party's nomination process like a troika, it would be a serious problem." This is the statement from Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Park mentioned "former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju's Me Too allegations, Special Advisor Kang's criminal charges related to sexual issues, and Deputy Director Hyun Geun-taek's recent sexual harassment incident," expressing concerns about the Democratic Party's nomination situation. As the controversy spread, Special Advisor Kang withdrew his verification application, and Deputy Director Hyun also announced he would not run. However, during this process, the Democratic Party consistently showed signs of stalling and cautiously watching public opinion.

Therefore, such concerns were likely not just Park's personal opinion. Beyond the controversies surrounding these three individuals, looking at the list of qualified candidates approved by the Democratic Party's Public Office Candidate Verification Committee raises questions about the standards of verification. The name of lawmaker Hwang Un-ha, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for interfering in the Ulsan mayoral election, stands out. Lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, indicted on charges of accepting bribes worth tens of millions of won and illegal political funds, was also deemed qualified. Representative Lee Jae-myung, who is on trial for the Daejang-dong scandal and others, was excluded from the start. Lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, who caused controversy by spreading 'fake news' about a party in Cheongdam-dong, passed without issue, and Nam Young-hee, former Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute who defended former lawmaker Choi Kang-wook's 'female' remark, was also qualified. Oh Seong-gyu, Seoul Standing Director of the 'Democratic National Innovation Conference,' who was involved in secondary victimization controversy related to former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual misconduct case, was also deemed qualified.

Despite the controversies, most of those who received qualification approval are pro-Lee Jae-myung faction members. Criticism continues over the leniency toward pro-Lee faction members and the strictness toward anti-Lee faction members in nominations. In fact, former mayors Kim Yoon-sik of Siheung, Choi Seong of Goyang, and Lee Chang-woo, former Dongjak District Mayor, who challenged key pro-Lee faction members' constituencies, were all judged unqualified. Conversely, the 'assassin candidacies' of pro-Lee faction members challenging anti-Lee faction constituencies are becoming the prevailing trend within the Democratic Party.

Recently, former leader Lee Nak-yeon, as well as lawmakers Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon, who left the party, collectively criticized the Democratic Party for becoming Lee Jae-myung's private faction. If the Democratic Party's nomination process continues as it is, it will be difficult to dismiss such criticism as mere justification for the defectors. This is because scenes continue to emerge where the primary criterion for Democratic Party nominations appears to be whether one is pro-Lee or not. Despite ongoing defections from the anti-Lee faction and controversies over discriminatory nominations, Representative Lee Jae-myung remains silent.

It is unclear how the Democratic Party intends to conduct the general election while showing such behavior. This may be the result of complacency following their overwhelming victory in last year's by-election for the Gangseo District Mayor. They might believe that since public sentiment toward President Yoon Seok-youl has worsened, they can win no matter what. If so, that is a grave misconception. While it is true that centrist voters disappointed with President Yoon's governance have turned away from the ruling party, the Democratic Party must recognize that distrust toward Representative Lee Jae-myung also plays a role in why these voters do not support the Democratic Party. Moreover, the People Power Party is showing signs of framing the April general election not as 'Yoon Seok-youl versus Lee Jae-myung' but as 'Han Dong-hoon versus Lee Jae-myung.' The 22nd general election could be much more challenging for the Democratic Party than they expect. Observing the Democratic Party's current state, one is reminded that there is nothing as deadly in politics as the poison of arrogance.

Of course, the Democratic Party's nomination spectacle should serve as a cautionary example for the People Power Party as well. In response to suspicions that 'pro-Yoon' candidates might monopolize favorable districts rather than challenging ones, Emergency Committee Chair Han Dong-hoon must respond with fair and reformist nominations that meet public expectations. Otherwise, the 'Han Dong-hoon effect' that the People Power Party hopes for risks being only a fleeting phenomenon. The fruits of victory in the general election will go to the side that knows how to respect public sentiment.

Yu Chang-seon (Political Commentator)