People Power Party Nominates Yoo Young-ha and Go Dong-jin... Incumbents Hong Seok-jun and Yoo Kyung-jun Cut Off

"'Pro-Park' Yoo Young-ha Nominated as 'Highest Scorer'
Park Sung-joong Reassigned to Bucheon-si E, Gyeonggi
Five National Nominations... 'Not Breaking the System Nomination'"

The People Power Party confirmed the nominations of lawyer Yoo Young-ha and former Samsung Electronics president Ko Dong-jin, who are classified as 'pro-Park Geun-hye,' resulting in the cutoff (exclusion from the primary) of incumbent lawmakers Hong Seok-jun and Yoo Kyung-jun. Park Sung-joong, who was cut off in the Seoul Seocho-gu Eul district, was reassigned to Bucheon-si Eul in Gyeonggi Province, classified as a difficult district in the metropolitan area. Additionally, five districts were designated as 'National Nomination' areas where ordinary citizens, not just party members, can apply for nomination.

Lawyer Yoo Young-ha is seen with teary eyes while speaking at the book launch event for "Park Geun-hye Memoirs: Through Darkness to the Future 1·2," held on the 5th of last month at Hotel Inter-Burgo in Suseong-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee announced the results of the 17th meeting and nominations on the 5th at the Yeouido Central Party Office. Lawyer Yoo was nominated unopposed in Dalseo-gu Gap, Daegu. Yoo has been known as a representative pro-Park figure, having served as a legal aide to former President Park Geun-hye since 2005. The incumbent first-term lawmaker Hong in the district was cut off. Jang Dong-hyuk, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, explained the reason for Yoo's nomination, saying, "Basically, it falls within the scope of system nomination," and "Among the applicants, Yoo scored the highest, and the score difference between first and second place was significant enough to decide on a single nomination."

In Gangnam-gu Byeong, Seoul, classified as a stronghold, former president Ko was strategically nominated. Ko, who joined Samsung Electronics as a regular employee in 1984, is known as a key figure behind the 'Galaxy success story.' Ahead of the general election in April, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, personally requested Ko to join the party. With Ko's nomination, incumbent lawmaker Yoo was cut off.

Former Samsung Electronics President Kodongjin./Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Park was strategically nominated in Bucheon-si Eul, Gyeonggi Province. Earlier that day, Shin Dong-wook, former TV Chosun anchor, was nominated unopposed in Seoul Seocho-gu Eul, Park's former district, indicating Park would be reassigned to a difficult metropolitan area. Currently, Bucheon-si Eul is the district of independent lawmaker Seol Hoon. Secretary-General Jang said, "There are still difficult areas left for the party," and "We are asking Park to run in a challenging district."

Han Jeong-min, a Samsung Electronics researcher aged 40 this year, was strategically nominated in Hwaseong-si Eul, Gyeonggi Province. This placement is intended to create a contest with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, who declared his candidacy in Hwaseong-si Eul. Jeong Young-hwan, chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, said, "(Hwaseong-si Eul) has an average voter age of about 34," and "We have nominated a young expert with excellent character." Additionally, Jeong Woo-sung, a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology, was strategically nominated in Pyeongtaek-si Eul, Kim Yoon-sik, former mayor of Siheung, in Siheung-si Eul, and Ko Gwang-cheol, a parliamentary aide, in Jeju-si Gap.

Lawmaker Lee Yong, classified as pro-Yoon, will compete in a primary. The People Power Party's Nomination Committee designated Hanam-si Gap, Gyeonggi Province, as a primary district. Candidates include Lee, lawyer Kim Ki-yoon, and former Hannara Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) Hanam mayor candidate Yoon Wan-chae. Secretary-General Jang explained the cutoff of preliminary candidate Lee Chang-geun, saying, "We do not decide nominations based solely on opinion polls," and "Although Lee has been politically active in the area for a long time and may score high in polls, his competitiveness in the general election is weaker than other candidates, so the committee considered this and excluded him from the primary."

Jeong Young-hwan, Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, is announcing the results of the 14th meeting at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 29th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Meanwhile, the People Power Party's Nomination Committee selected five districts?Gangnam-gu Gap and Gangnam-gu Eul in Seoul, Dong-gu Gunwi-gun Gap and Buk-gu Gap in Daegu, and Nam-gu Gap in Ulsan?as national nomination target districts. To attract many applicants, the screening fee was waived, and online applications were made the standard. The final candidate announcement is scheduled for the 15th. However, previously discussed public announcements or national broadcasts will not be conducted.

Secretary-General Jang said, "Some say national nomination breaks the rules of system nomination, but it can be a form of strategic nomination," and "Other than significantly lowering the barriers for newcomers, it is no different from strategic nomination." He added, "We carefully considered whether these districts meet various conditions for strategic nomination," and "There may be backlash from those who do not make the candidate list, but it is practically impossible to satisfy everyone with nominations."