Rep. Lee Gae-ho's Sole Nomination by the Democratic Party Sparks "Self-Nomination" Backlash from Preliminary Candidates

Kim Young-mi, Park No-won, Lee Seok-hyung 'Retrial Application'

When incumbent lawmaker Lee Gae-ho was nominated as the sole candidate for the 22nd National Assembly election in the Jeonnam Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong electoral district by the Democratic Party, the region once again became turbulent.

On the 25th, the Democratic Party's Central Committee for Public Office Candidate Recommendation announced the results of the 7th round of primary screening and declared that Representative Lee Gae-ho would be the sole candidate for the Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong electoral district.

From the left in the photo, Kim Young-mi, Park No-won, Lee Gae-ho, Lee Seok-hyung (in alphabetical order) preliminary candidates.

In this electoral district, Kim Young-mi, former cultural tourism expert committee member of the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development, Park No-won, former administrative officer of the Presidential Secretariat, and Lee Seok-hyung, former Hampyeong County Governor, had registered early as preliminary candidates and had been active since December last year.

However, when Lee’s sole nomination was announced that day, the three preliminary candidates strongly criticized the fairness of the nomination, calling it a "self-nomination," and fiercely opposed it.

Preliminary candidate Kim Young-mi immediately issued a statement saying, "For the second time in four years, a sole nomination has been repeated here," adding, "A sole nomination in Honam is an act of depriving voters of their right to participate and violates the principle of youth candidates’ participation in primaries, so I will request a reconsideration."

Preliminary candidate Park No-won said, "The disappearance of systematic nominations is shaking the foundation of the Democratic Party, and yet another atrocity of self-nomination by party official cartels has occurred," adding, "Despite recent polls showing that Park No-won, Lee Gae-ho, and Lee Seok-hyung are competing within the margin of error, nominating Lee as the sole candidate is an arrogant act against public sentiment and a violent act by the Democratic Party’s nomination committee."

Preliminary candidate Lee Seok-hyung also stated, "The privileges of incumbency and party positions were abused to hinder fair competition. If you are afraid of the primary, step down courageously," and "I demand the nomination committee pursue innovation and fair nominations and request a reconsideration."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (Gap) electoral district was announced as a two-person primary between incumbent lawmaker Song Gap-seok and Jo In-cheol, Gwangju City’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy. Former senior administrative officer Kim Myung-jin and former lawmaker Park Hye-ja tasted defeat.

Former senior administrative officer Kim Myung-jin also issued a statement saying, "The moral flaws of one confirmed primary candidate have not been fully verified, raising concerns about disruptions in the upcoming election," and added, "I will request a reconsideration."