Minjoo Withdraws Strategic Nomination of Kwon Hyang-yeop Amid 'Sacheon Controversy'... Will Compete in Primary Against Seo Dong-yong

The Democratic Party has withdrawn the strategic nomination of former Blue House Balanced Personnel Secretary Kwon Hyang-yeop for the Jeonnam Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye-eul constituency, amid controversy over 'private recommendation (sacheon)', and decided to hold a primary election.

Spokesperson Han Min-soo stated after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th, "Candidate Kwon himself expressed his intention to confidently participate in the primary out of affection for the party and requested a primary as a magnanimous decision not to burden the party any further," adding, "The Supreme Council accepted this and resolved to designate this electoral district as a strategic primary district and to conduct a two-person primary."

Seoul Yeouido Democratic Party Headquarters. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The primary will be held using a 100% national primary system between the incumbent lawmaker Seo Dong-yong and candidate Kwon in this district.

Spokesperson Han also mentioned regarding the Supreme Council meeting, "There was strong opinion that changing the strategic electoral district under circumstances where distorted facts and false information were spread due to fake news would violate the judgment and principles of the Nomination Management Committee and the Strategic Nomination Management Committee."

He continued, "Since the decision was also to comply with nomination-related regulations such as female political representation in Honam and the 30% female candidate nomination stipulated in the party constitution, many opinions were expressed that nominations should be made according to principles," adding, "There were many opinions that it is right to proceed with the current strategic nomination according to principles."

Earlier, on the 2nd, the Democratic Party strategically nominated former Secretary Kwon, who served as Deputy Head of the Spouse Office of the Presidential Election Committee in the last presidential election. The People Power Party criticized this as sacheon.

Regarding this, Spokesperson Han pointed out, "Some media outlets described the official title of Deputy Head of the Spouse Office of the Presidential Election Committee during the last presidential election as if he were the secretary of the candidate’s spouse at the time, and some even described him as an aide," adding, "We define fake news as an election crime intended to influence the election and have decided to strictly hold legal responsibility for it."

He stated, "We will file complaints tomorrow against some media outlets that spread such false information and disparaged the Democratic Party’s nomination, as well as related figures including Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has decided to nominate candidate Kim Ki-tae for the Gyeongnam Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon constituency.