Discussion on Excluding Candidates for Corruption... Concern Over 'Donbongtu Incident'
"Are They Trying to Weed Out a Few to Shield Lee from Legal Risks?"
Democratic Party's Candidate Committee Expected to Announce Cutoff Early Next Week
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is facing growing controversy as he delays notifying the 'cut-off list' and takes direct action himself. As expectations arise that he will weed out lawmakers involved in corruption allegations, there is also backlash demanding that Lee take responsibility for his own judicial risks.
According to a Democratic Party official on the 16th, Lee Jae-myung made phone calls during the recent Lunar New Year holiday to those suspected of being involved in the 'party convention money envelope' scandal to gather related information. The prosecution named 21 lawmakers who appeared to have attended the 'money envelope distribution meeting' last November. Lee reportedly asked some of them in detail whether they actually received money envelopes or witnessed others receiving them.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a greeting speech at the welcoming ceremony for Kim Yong-man, the 8th recruited talent and director of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Commemoration Association, held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Kim, who was recruited as talent on this day, is the great-grandson of Baekbeom Kim Gu. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
As Lee recently took a leading role in the nomination process by directly recommending former lawmaker Moon Hak-jin and others to not run, various interpretations have emerged. It is believed that he sought to understand the situation to decide whether to exclude lawmakers involved in the money envelope scandal from nominations. The Democratic Party’s Nomination Management Committee announced the results of the third round of candidate screening the day before, but none of the constituencies of lawmakers named in the money envelope list have been included so far.
Criticism of 'bulletproof nominations' has been raised over Lee delaying the notification of the 'cut-off list' and personally taking action. Some say he is trying to cover up his own judicial risks by selectively removing certain corrupt lawmakers. Lee is currently facing three trials: ▲ breach of trust related to preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development projects ▲ false statement during the 20th presidential election ▲ perjury coaching related to impersonating a prosecutor, but the first trial verdict before the general election remains uncertain.
A senior metropolitan area lawmaker said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "It is unrealistic to manage the general election and campaign in his own constituency while facing three trials," adding, "He talks about reform, but isn’t he trying to cover his judicial risks by cutting a few people?" He continued, "Quite a few incumbents are holding their breath hoping for a primary, but the atmosphere will change once the cut-off results come out."
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea are listening to remarks by Representative Lee Jae-myung at a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
On the 13th, Lee reportedly held a late-night private meeting with close aides to discuss whether to exclude lawmakers such as Roh Woong-rae, Ki Dong-min, and Lee Soo-jin, who are on trial over corruption allegations, from nominations. Shortly after, he posted on Facebook, "New wine requires new wineskins." At the next day’s Supreme Council meeting, he reiterated his determination for a shake-up, saying, "Old shoots must wither for new shoots to grow, and the water of the Yangtze River pushes the front waves forward."
However, there are also criticisms that the 'systematic nomination' is collapsing. Some say Lee’s selective cuts that avoid the pro-Lee core faction are a step toward 'secret nominations.' A re-elected lawmaker from the anti-Lee faction criticized, "If this is reform, why are there no pro-Lee members among those targeted for replacement?" adding, "It sounds like he wants to fill the wineskin only with his own wine, not new wine." A pro-Moon faction lawmaker said, "The purge started as soon as pro-Lee figures declared candidacy in anti-Lee constituencies," and added, "If the general election is not going to be fought looking only at hardline party members, then he should step down himself or show that the pro-Lee leadership is willing to sacrifice."
Meanwhile, a Nomination Committee official said, "The results of the fourth round of candidate screening will be announced early next week, and the cut-off notifications will be made around the same time."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
