Growing Centrifugal Force in the Opposition... Former Prime Ministers Also Warn of Backlash Over 'Sacheon' Controversy

Gonggwanwi Announces Candidate Selection for 18 Regions Including Seoul and Busan
Strategy Gonggwanwi Demands Im Jong-seok Run in Seoul Songpa-gap
Backlash Against 'Candidate Purge'... Heated Debate Expected at Party Meeting

The Democratic Party of Korea is accelerating its nomination process despite the controversy over Lee Jae-myung's private recommendations. However, it has been confirmed that they requested former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, a key figure in the pro-Moon faction, to run in the challenging district of Seoul Songpa-gap, which is expected to trigger collective backlash mainly from the pro-Moon camp. Senior party members, including former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, have also signaled criticism toward Lee Jae-myung.

On the morning of the 21st, Im Hyuk-baek, the head of the nomination management committee, announced the results of the fourth round of nomination reviews for 18 districts, including primaries and uncontested nominations, focusing on Seoul, Busan, and Gyeonggi regions at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Ten districts were decided for uncontested nominations, with six incumbents advancing to the general election.

On the morning of the 21st, Im Hyuk-baek, the Chair of the Nomination Management Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced the results of the candidate screening at the Democratic Party of Korea Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Looking at the primary districts, a showdown between incumbents and pro-Lee outside figures has been decided. In Geumcheon, Seoul, Representative Choi Ki-sang will compete against Cho Sang-ho, vice chairman of the Democratic Party's legal committee and a pro-Lee figure. In Gwangsan-gap, Gwangju, Representative Lee Yong-bin will face Park Gyun-taek, the party leader’s legal special advisor, in a primary. Park was appointed as Lee’s legal counsel in January last year and accompanied him during prosecution summons and warrant hearings. In Yongin-byeong, Gyeonggi, Representative Jung Chun-sook and former Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Boo Seung-chan, who served as the last spokesperson under the Moon Jae-in administration, will compete for a ticket to the general election.

Additionally, in Yongsan, Seoul, known as the "heart of the Yoon Seok-youl government," former Seoul Deputy Mayor for Administration Kang Tae-woong and former Yongsan District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun will face off. In the likely merged districts of Nam-gap and Nam-eul in Busan, former Nam District Mayor Park Jae-beom and Representative Park Jae-ho received uncontested nominations, respectively. When asked by reporters about accusations of a "pro-Lee faction nomination massacre," Im Hyuk-baek rebutted, saying, "The nomination committee is nominating based on principles, so there is no basis for claims of a pro-Lee faction massacre."

Former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok (center) is seated at the inauguration and farewell ceremony for the 18th to 19th and 20th presidents of the Seoul Saemaeul Association held on the afternoon of the 7th at Seongdong-gu Office in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the same morning, Ahn Kyu-baek, head of the strategic nomination management committee, after approving some strategic nominations, mentioned the resignation of Deputy Speaker Kim Young-joo, stating, "Our party’s elected official system is a mechanism for improving the party’s structure and winning the general election, and no one can fundamentally interfere." When asked if they had inquired about former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok’s willingness to run in the challenging Seoul Songpa-gap district, he replied, "Since the party’s strategic assets have a large ripple effect, it is true that we requested him to go and dedicate himself to a district of moderate strength rather than a stronghold like Songpa-gap."

Former Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok effectively declined. His side explained, "We thoroughly explained the situation in Jung and Seongdong-gap, Seoul, and his existing stance on running, and received a response that he would 'discuss it well.'"

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is speaking ahead of a meeting with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the morning of the 20th at Haenam 2 Building in Jongno-gu.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party is experiencing increasing centrifugal forces since the notification of lower-ranked incumbents began on the 19th. On the first day of notification, Deputy Speaker Kim Young-joo, classified as part of the "Chung Sye-kyun faction," declared his resignation in protest of being ranked in the bottom 20%. The day before, Representatives Park Yong-jin and Yoon Young-chan, considered pro-Lee figures, publicly criticized the "Lee Jae-myung factionalization" issue after being notified of their placement in the bottom 10%.

In particular, there are signs that pro-Moon faction members will engage in "collective action" at the lawmakers’ meeting convened immediately after the plenary session today. This is as it has become increasingly evident that many from both the pro-Moon and anti-Lee factions were included in the list of lower-ranked incumbents. The day before, Representative Hong Young-pyo led a private luncheon meeting with former Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol and former first public communication secretary Yoon Young-chan, among others.

Senior party members are also expected to voice criticism. A source close to former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Former Prime Minister Kim, along with former National Assembly Speakers Im Chae-jung, Kim Won-ki, and Moon Hee-sang, will strongly express regret over Lee Jae-myung’s unfair nominations. They plan to meet this morning to urge fair nominations, and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, currently in the U.S., has also conveyed his intention to join in."

Nevertheless, Lee Jae-myung has repeatedly expressed his determination to continue the "shake-up" despite such backlash. He told reporters the day before, "This is a kind of pain that occurs during the process of rebirth with a new image." On his Facebook, he wrote, "The old leaves must fall for new shoots to grow, and the first branch must yield to the next for a big tree to grow; this is the law of nature," adding, "Direct all resentment to me, the leader."