Press Conference by Hong Seok-jun Challenging Yoo Young-ha
Yoo Kyung-jun Also Demands Explanation from the Party Committee and Requests Re-examination
Lee Chae-ik from the National Nomination District Declares "Independent Candidacy"
On the 6th, incumbent members of the People Power Party raised issues with the nomination management committee's 'system nomination.' This came after their constituencies were designated as targets for the 'People's Nomination System' or other candidates received uncontested nominations, resulting in their cutoff (exclusion from nomination). These lawmakers are continuing to run as independents and file objections.
On the 5th, Jung Young-hwan, head of the People Power Party's nomination committee, announced uncontested nominations of lawyer Yoo Young-ha for Daegu Dalseo-gap and former Samsung Electronics president Ko Dong-jin for Gangnam-byeong. On the morning of the 6th, Chairman Jung explained this to reporters, saying, "(Yoo's nomination) showed a significant score difference in the data," and added, "If we had quickly recommended an uncontested candidate, it might have seemed like we were trying to curry favor with former President Park Geun-hye, so the political judgment was made in the opposite direction." He explained that the system nomination could have been decided earlier, but the announcement was delayed to dispel misunderstandings.
Hong Seok-jun, a member of the People Power Party, is entering the National Assembly Communication Office on the 6th for a press conference related to the general election cut-off (nomination exclusion). Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
However, incumbent lawmaker Hong Seok-jun of Daegu Dalseo-gap filed an objection, calling for a primary election against Yoo's uncontested nomination. At a press conference held at the communication center that day, Hong said, "I have actively contributed to building the image of a policy-oriented party by serving on various special committees," and "I have achieved remarkable results, such as tripling the number of responsible party members in Dalseo-gap in three years." He added regarding the uncontested nomination, "The fundamental principle of a fair system nomination that has worked well until now has been broken," and said, "(The claim that this is part of the system nomination) is a complete lie."
Criticism has also emerged inside and outside the party that Yoo's nomination failed to cross the 'Impeachment River.' Before Yoo's nomination, lawyer Do Tae-woo, who defended former President Park during the impeachment trial, defeated incumbent lawmaker Im Byung-heon in Daegu Jung-nam-gu and was nominated as the People Power Party candidate. A party official predicted, "The frame that we failed to cross the 'Impeachment River' again will negatively affect the Seoul and metropolitan area political landscape." The Democratic Party's Daegu city branch mocked in a statement, "President Yoon Seok-yeol and Chairman Han Dong-hoon themselves nominating people who defended criminals sentenced to 24 years in prison after investigation proves they are the Yongsan hotbag themselves."
In Gangnam-byeong, former Samsung Electronics president Ko, a party recruit and famous for the 'Galaxy success story,' was uncontestedly recommended, resulting in the cutoff of incumbent lawmaker Yoo Kyung-jun. Some speculate that despite Yoo achieving a majority in the competitiveness survey for Gangnam-byeong, he was not nominated due to being labeled as part of the 'Yoo Seung-min faction.' Yoo also filed an objection with the nomination committee that day. He stated, "I was the first to raise issues about the Moon Jae-in administration's statistical manipulation and distortion, leading to audits by the Board of Audit and Inspection and prosecution investigations," and "As head of the pledge planning team of the general election pledge development headquarters, I minimized local and preliminary candidate activities while leading the general election victory." He added, "I regret the nomination committee's decision-making not based on quantitative indicators despite boasting about system nominations," and "I demand an explanation from the nomination committee regarding the reasons for prioritizing recommendations contrary to nomination principles and the decision-making process behind this." The final nomination results will be decided at the People Power Party's emergency committee meeting on the 7th.
There are also ongoing issues with the 'People's Nomination System.' The People Power Party's nomination committee announced the day before that Daegu Dong-gu Gunwi-gap (formerly Dong-gu-gap) and Buk-gap, Ulsan Nam-gap, and Gangnam Gap and Eul were selected as regions to apply the People's Nomination System. Gangnam Gap became vacant as incumbent lawmaker Tae Young-ho moved to Guro-eul, and Gangnam Eul became vacant as former Foreign Minister Park Jin and former presidential office personnel secretary Lee Won-mo applied for nominations but were reassigned to Seodaemun-eul and Gyeonggi Yongin-gap, respectively. The other three are represented by incumbents Ryu Seong-geol (Daegu Dong-gu Gunwi-gap), Yang Geum-hee (Daegu Buk-gap), and Lee Chae-ik (Ulsan Nam-gap). Inside and outside the party, these incumbent lawmakers are seen as effectively cutoff.
On the 16th, at the plenary meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee held at the National Assembly, Chairman Lee Chae-ik was talking with Kim Gyo-heung, the Democratic Party of Korea's secretary, and Lee Man-hee, the People Power Party's secretary. The committee was adjourned after a heated exchange between the ruling and opposition parties over the budget cuts related to Minister Lee Sang-min's operational expenses and the Police Bureau. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Lee Chae-ik, a three-term incumbent (19th, 20th, and 21st) People Power Party lawmaker from Ulsan Nam-gu-gap, one of the People's Nomination System target regions, declared he will run as an independent. In a phone call that day, Lee said, "It is naturally a situation where I must run (as an independent)." He posted on his social media the day before, saying, "Today, the People Power Party abandoned me," and "I will never be discouraged. I will move forward even more firmly."
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