Female Priority Baek Seung-a, Oh Se-hee, Kang Yoo-jung, Lim Mi-ae, Go Jae-soon
Male Priority Wi Seong-rak, Lim Kwang-hyun, Park Hong-bae, Jeong Eul-ho, Kim Jun-hwan
Sonamudang Negotiations Excluded... Song Young-gil to Run in Gwangju Seo-gu Gap
The Democratic Party of Korea has selected a pool of 20 proportional representation candidates to recommend to the satellite party of the proportional alliance, the Democratic United Party. Regarding the proposal for the Sonamu Party's participation in the proportional alliance, which former leader Song Young-gil suggested in a 'prison letter' while incarcerated, the party flatly rejected any possibility of further negotiations.
Kim Seong-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party and chair of the proportional representation candidate recommendation subcommittee of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee, disclosed the selection results for the 20 proportional representation candidates during a briefing at the National Assembly on the 12th. The list was finalized following the resolution at the Supreme Council meeting the previous day.
Kim Seong-hwan, chairman of the proportional representation candidate recommendation subcommittee of the Democratic Party of Korea's Strategic Nomination Management Committee, is explaining candidate recommendations at the National Assembly on the 5th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The top-ranked female candidates include ▲Baek Seung-ah, co-representative of the Democratic United Party (former chairperson of the Gangwon Teachers' Union), ▲Oh Se-hee, former president of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations, ▲Kang Yoo-jung, professor at Gangnam University, ▲Lim Mi-ae, chairperson of the Democratic Party’s Gyeongbuk Provincial Party, and ▲Ko Jae-soon, former secretary-general of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. The top-ranked male candidates are ▲Wi Seong-rak, former ambassador to Russia, ▲Lim Gwang-hyun, former deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service, ▲Park Hong-bae, chairperson of the Democratic Party’s National Labor Committee, ▲Jeong Eun-ho, former director of general affairs coordination at the Democratic Party Central Party, and ▲Kim Jun-hwan, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service.
The lower-ranked female candidates include ▲Kwak Eun-mi, director of the Democratic Party’s International Department, ▲Baek Hye-sook, CEO of EcoShip Co., Ltd., ▲Jeon Ye-hyun, visiting professor at Woosuk University Graduate School, ▲Heo So-young, former member of the Gangwon Provincial Assembly, and ▲Kang Kyung-yoon, director of the Democratic Party’s Women’s Department. The male candidates in the lower-ranked group are ▲Jo Won-hee, chairperson of the Democratic Party’s Gyeongbuk Provincial Party’s Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, ▲comedian Seo Seung-man, ▲Seo Jae-heon, chairperson of the Democratic Party’s Daegu City Party Youth Committee, ▲Choi Young-seung, former president of the Korea Association of Judicial Scriveners, and ▲Song Chang-wook, former secretary for institutional reform at the Blue House.
Among these candidates, Baek Seung-ah, co-representative of the Democratic United Party, Lim Gwang-hyun, former deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service, and Kim Jun-hwan, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, are recruited talents. The Democratic Party also decided to recommend Oh Se-hee as a talent in the economy and livelihood sector, and Kang Yoo-jung, who has worked as a film critic, as a talent in the culture and arts sector.
Attendees including Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are taking a commemorative photo at the Democratic United Alliance Central Party Founding Convention held on the 3rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. From the left: Yoon Hee-sook, leader of the Progressive Party; Lee Jae-myung; Yoon Young-duk and Baek Seung-ah, co-leaders of the Democratic United Alliance; Yong Hye-in, standing leader of the New Progressive Alliance. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Kim Seong-hwan stated, "Among the list recommended by the Strategic Nomination Management Committee, one top-ranked and one lower-ranked candidate were changed during the Supreme Council approval process." Although he did not disclose the names of the individuals, it was reported that concerns were raised about the appropriateness of recommending one top-ranked candidate. Additionally, the lower-ranked candidate was excluded because they expressed an intention to run in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. Regarding the placement of comedian Seo Seung-man, he said, "He showed a very strong will to fully resolve the incompetence, regression, and tyranny of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Some evaluators suggested placing him in a top-ranked position, but due to various circumstances, he was placed in a preliminary order (lower-ranked)."
The Democratic United Party plans to place 30 proportional representation candidates. The New Progressive Alliance and the Progressive Party will each nominate three candidates, the Coalition Political Citizens' Meeting will nominate four candidates, and the Democratic Party will fill the remaining 20 slots. Within the top 20 proportional representation slots, considered a safe zone for election, the Democratic Party’s share is 10 seats. Six women and four men are expected to be included. Additionally, from slots 21 to 30, 10 lower-ranked candidates nominated by the Democratic Party will be placed. Kim explained, "The final ranking will be adjusted and announced by the Democratic United Party. There may be requests to replace candidates during additional verification, and the Democratic Party may undertake candidate replacement work."
On the afternoon of the 3rd, at the founding members' meeting of the Political Prosecution Abolition Party held at Jeonil Building in Gwangju, Nam Young-shin, wife of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, is reading the party founding declaration. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Kim also dismissed the possibility of further negotiations regarding the Sonamu Party’s proposal for proportional representation participation, as revealed by former leader Song Young-gil in his 'prison letter,' saying, "I think there is no physical or time margin to negotiate further with that party. It seems unlikely that the Sonamu Party will participate."
Former leader Song Young-gil, who is currently incarcerated on charges related to distributing cash envelopes during the party convention, founded the Sonamu Party (tentatively named the Political Prosecution Abolition Party). On the same day at the National Assembly, Hwang Tae-young, acting party leader, announced that Song would run in Gwangju Seo-gu Gap district. Regarding joining the proportional alliance, Hwang said, "The Sonamu Party proposed negotiations on the 7th, the day after its founding, but there has been no official response until today. Representative Lee Jae-myung has abandoned Song Young-gil."
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