[Exclusive] 7 out of 8 Members Whom Representative Lee Jae-myung Serves as Sponsorship Chairman Receive Nomination

Detailed Analysis of Preliminary Candidates' Support Committees Reported to the Election Commission
Nomination Guarantee Checks Issued by 'Lee Jae-myung and Ahn Dae-hee Support Committee Chairs'
'Lee Jae-myung's Mentor' Lee Han-ju Serves as Support Committee Chair for 12 Candidates

Would having a prominent figure as a sponsorship chairman be advantageous for nomination? On the 20th, Asia Economy conducted a comprehensive analysis of the sponsorship committees of preliminary candidates reported to the National Election Commission (as of the 11th). It was found that in the opposition party, many candidates received nominations when Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, was the sponsorship chairman, while in the ruling party, former Supreme Court Justice Ahn Dae-hee held that role.

The individual who served as the sponsorship chairman for the most preliminary candidates was Lee Han-ju, former head of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, who was known as Lee Jae-myung’s mentor. Following him, Lee Jae-myung and former lawmaker Lee Yong-deuk each served as sponsorship chairmen for eight preliminary candidates. Additionally, in the Democratic Party, senior lawmakers with multiple terms such as Kim Du-kwan (4 candidates), Woo Sang-ho (4 candidates), Woo Won-shik (4 candidates), and Jung Chung-rae (6 candidates), as well as elder statesmen like former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (6 candidates), mainly took on sponsorship chairman roles. In the People Power Party, the most notable figure was former Supreme Court Justice Ahn Dae-hee, who served as sponsorship chairman for six candidates.

The Value of the ‘Lee Jae-myung Sponsorship Chairman’ Confirmed in Nominations

In the Democratic Party, the issue of former Director Lee Han-ju’s role as sponsorship chairman became a topic ahead of nominations. There were concerns that Lee, a close aide of Lee Jae-myung, might act as a conduit for ‘pro-Lee marketing.’ However, among the 12 candidates who reported former Director Lee as their sponsorship chairman to the Election Commission, only two candidates were nominated: Moon Geum-ju, a preliminary candidate for the combined districts of Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, and Gangjin in Jeonnam, and Kim Dong-a, a preliminary candidate for Seoul Seodaemun-gu Gap, designated as a youth strategic special zone. Preliminary candidates Jin Seok-beom of Hwaseong-si Eul, Lee Heon-wook of Yongin-si Jeong, and Cheon Gyeong-bae of Yeongam, Muan, and Sinan counties in Jeonnam made it to the primaries but were not nominated.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting citizens on the 5th at the New Town underground shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the other hand, candidates who had Lee Jae-myung himself as their sponsorship chairman demonstrated real influence. Ahead of the general election, Lee, who directly led the talent recruitment committee as its chairman, personally took on the role of sponsorship chairman for some candidates to support their campaigns. Based on reported data, Lee served as sponsorship chairman for eight preliminary candidates, seven of whom received nominations. Of course, some of these candidates were nominated through strategic or uncontested nominations. Those who went through party primaries actively leveraged the fact that Lee was their sponsorship chairman.

For example, preliminary candidates Park Seon-won of Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, Lee Hun-gi of Namdong-gu, Incheon, and Park Ji-hye of Uijeongbu-si Gap, Gyeonggi, publicized ‘Lee Jae-myung Sponsorship Chairman’ on social networking services (SNS) ahead of their party primaries. Park Seon-won announced just before the primaries that Lee was his sponsorship chairman and shared photos taken side by side with Lee under the slogan ‘Together with Lee Jae-myung Sponsorship Chairman.’ Lee Hun-gi also posted on SNS, "Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, has become my sponsorship chairman," and prominently displayed this on promotional materials during the primaries. Park Ji-hye likewise announced via SNS that she had Lee as her sponsorship chairman, carrying the title of ‘First Talent Recruit.’

The only preliminary candidate who lost despite having Lee as sponsorship chairman was Shin Yong-han, who challenged Cheongju-si Cheongwon-gu in Chungbuk. However, the winner against Shin Yong-han, preliminary candidate Song Jae-bong, also had Lee as his sponsorship chairman. The story goes like this: Shin Yong-han announced on SNS on the 5th that "Lee Jae-myung has taken on the role of my sponsorship chairman." When Song Jae-bong’s side objected, Shin proposed that Lee also serve as Song’s sponsorship chairman. Consequently, Lee became the sponsorship chairman for both candidates in the primary.

Additionally, Lee serves as sponsorship chairman for recruited talents such as Kim Yong-man (Hanam-si Eul, Gyeonggi), Noh Jong-myeon (Bupyeong-gu Gap Eul, Incheon), and Hwang Jeong-a (Yuseong-gu Eul, Daejeon).

The Ruling Party’s Most Frequent Sponsorship Chairman: Former Supreme Court Justice Ahn Dae-hee

Former Supreme Court Justice Ahn Dae-hee

Unlike the Democratic Party, where politicians often serve as sponsorship chairmen for multiple preliminary candidates, in the People Power Party, former Supreme Court Justice Ahn Dae-hee stood out. Having previously been a prime ministerial candidate who withdrew and a Saenuri Party candidate in the 19th general election, Ahn served as sponsorship chairman for six preliminary candidates affiliated with the People Power Party this time. Four of these candidates received nominations.

Kim Jong-hyuk, preliminary candidate for Goyang-si Byeong, Gyeonggi; Lee Won-mo, preliminary candidate for Yongin-si Gap, Gyeonggi; Lee Seung-hwan, preliminary candidate for Jungnang-gu, Seoul; and Shin Beom-cheol, preliminary candidate for Cheonan-si Gap, Chungnam, were nominated through strategic or uncontested nominations. However, despite having Ahn as their sponsorship chairman, preliminary candidates Jeong Gwang-jae of Uijeongbu-si Eul, Gyeonggi, and Jeon Ji-hyun of Guri-si, Gyeonggi, lost in the primaries to Lee Hyung-seop and Na Tae-geun, respectively.

"I Recommend This Person"

What significance does a sponsorship chairman hold in modern politics? Could it represent wholehearted support for an individual?

On the 12th, Professor Jin Joong-kwon of Kwangwoon University introduced that he served as the sponsorship chairman for preliminary candidate Ryu Ho-jeong (Bundang Gugeup) of the Reform New Party, stating, "I took on the role to support the struggles of young generation politicians," and added, "They say when you get old, keep your mouth shut and open your wallet; I intend to follow that advice," which sparked attention. Thus, a sponsorship chairman can signify not just political patronage but full support for a person. For example, former soccer player Lee Cheon-soo served as the sponsorship chairman for preliminary candidate Won Hee-ryong, who ran in Incheon Gyeyang-gu. Lee Cheon-soo was even assaulted while campaigning on the streets to support Won Hee-ryong’s election.

Professor Ahn Byung-jin of Kyung Hee University’s Future Civilization Institute announced that he serves as sponsorship chairman for Green Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young, emphasizing, "A new future beyond the 1987 order is already growing." He also stated, "After the election, I will work for the next ten years on ways to dismantle the 1987 order and enable next-value figures like Representative Jang to assert a stronger presence." This shows his determination to set the research direction for the next decade, using the sponsorship chairman role as a starting point.