People Power Party, Primary Shake-up Skepticism... Possibility of 국민추천제 and Female Priority Nomination in Strongholds

Active Members Pass Primaries Without Issues
Attention on Gangnam and TK Nomination Results

Incumbent members of the People Power Party passed the primaries without much difficulty. While it is good to manage things smoothly, there are remarks that there might be too little change. However, the party is considering the 국민추천제 (People's Recommendation System) and prioritizing female candidates in the party strongholds such as Gangnam in Seoul and the Yeongnam region, which is drawing attention as a potential trigger for future nominations.

People Power Party's Jeong Young-hwan, Chair of the Nomination Management Committee, and committee members are entering the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 25th to announce the results of the first primary election.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party announced on the 25th that 19 candidates from the first round of primaries advanced to the main election. Among them, incumbent five-term lawmaker Jeong Woo-taek (Cheongju-si Sangdang-gu), three-term lawmakers Park Deok-heum (Boeun-gun, Okcheon-gun, Yeongdong-gun, Goesan-gun) and Lee Jong-bae (Chungju-si), as well as first-term lawmakers Eom Tae-young (Jecheon-si, Danyang-gun) and Jang Dong-hyeok (Boryeong-si, Seocheon-gun) passed the primaries.

Since no incumbent lawmaker was cut off (excluded from nomination) or lost in the primaries, some criticize that there is no reshuffling. The People Power Party’s Nomination Management Committee announced that for incumbents with three terms in the same district, 15% would be deducted during the primary process, and incumbents falling into the 'exceeding bottom 10% but within bottom 30%' category would have 20% deducted. Lawmakers Jeong Woo-taek, Park Deok-heum, and Lee Jong-bae all fall under the penalty category for three or more terms in the same district.

Some lawmakers are also under suspicion of illegal fund receipt. Lawmaker Jeong faced difficulties due to CCTV footage in 2022 showing him receiving an envelope of money at a cafe in Cheongju-si. Former lawmaker Kim Seon-gyo, who won in the Gyeonggi Yeosu-si and Yangpyeong-gun districts, was acquitted of illegal fundraising charges in May last year, but the accounting officer received a fine of 10 million won and other penalties, resulting in the loss of his seat in the 21st National Assembly. According to the Public Official Election Act, if the accounting officer of the election office or the candidate’s spouse or direct relatives are sentenced to imprisonment or fined over 3 million won for illegal political fund receipt, the election result is invalidated.

Meanwhile, nominations have not yet been decided for four districts in Gangnam (Seoul Gangnam-gu Gap, Eul, Byeong, Seocho-gu Eul) and eight districts in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (Daegu Dalseo-gu Gap, Dong-gu Gap, Buk-gu Gap, Gyeongbuk Gyeongsan-si, Gumi Eul, Andong Yecheon, Yeongju Yeongyang Bonghwa Uljin, Gunwi Uiseong Cheongsong Yeongdeok). The People Power Party is reportedly considering nominating female candidates or using the 국민추천제 (People's Recommendation System) in the remaining districts.

Secretary-General Jang said on the day, "(The People’s Recommendation System, etc.) is one of the options we are considering. There is no reason to mechanically replace incumbents just because they are incumbents."