Park Yong-jin, 'Sudden Death' Period... Lee Jae-myung Directly Reveals Even the Results

Park Yong-jin Finally Defeated in Seoul Gangbuk By-election
'Lower Reduction' Penalty...Opponent Gains Points as 'Female Rookie'
Lee Jae-myung Reveals Vote Count Despite 'Confidentiality Principle'

Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) from the non-mainstream faction, ultimately lost his nomination. As Park, considered the last flashpoint of the nomination turmoil, failed to overcome the primary election barrier, some critics say this reaffirms the 'non-mainstream demise' trend to the very end.

According to the DPK Central Election Commission on the 20th, Cho Su-jin, a director at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, was confirmed as the final candidate in the re-primary election for Seoul Gangbuk-gu Eul district. Park Beom-gye, chairman of the election commission, announced the day before, "The voter turnout was 53.18%, and the nationwide party members' turnout was 26.31%," adding, "The first place is candidate Cho Su-jin."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Yong-jin is leaving the press conference room at the National Assembly Communication Office in Seoul on the 17th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Park's primary was difficult from the start. Although he led legislative activities such as the 'Kindergarten Three Laws' and achieved several accomplishments, he was ranked in the 'bottom 10%' in controversial incumbent evaluations. Having faced off against party leader Lee Jae-myung for both the presidential and party leadership, Park did not hesitate to criticize internal party issues and clashed multiple times with the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership.' This background made him a representative figure of the non-mainstream faction ahead of the nomination.

Several obstacles were set during the primary election in Seoul Gangbuk-gu Eul. Although Park had previously surpassed former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju in the primary, he was pushed down due to a '30% deduction' penalty based on the lower evaluation. After Jeong's nomination was canceled amid controversies such as the 'crutch giveaway' remarks, a re-primary was held. Park carried the existing penalty, while his opponent Cho Su-jin received a '25% bonus' as a female newcomer.

In addition to a penalty of up to 55%, the primary rules were set in an unprecedented way. The results combined online voting with a two-vote system: 70% from nationwide party members and 30% from Gangbuk-gu Eul party members. This was a significant difference from the previous primary, which was conducted with 50% regional party members and 50% general public opinion polls. There were criticisms that it was unfair to have nationwide party members, unrelated to the district, select the local candidate.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Wonju Jungang Market in Gangwon on the 19th and greeted citizens together with candidates Won Chang-mook and Song Ki-heon on the stage.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Despite the cancellation of former lawmaker Jeong's nomination, the runner-up Park was not given the nomination but was forced to compete in a more disadvantageous re-primary, leading some to evaluate this as the final chapter of the nomination marked by 'non-mainstream demise.'

Kim Boo-kyum, co-chairman of the joint election countermeasures committee, indirectly defended party leader Lee Jae-myung when criticism was directed at him. On the previous day’s CBS radio, he said, "There have been cases where the second-place candidate was given the nomination when the first-place candidate had issues, so I asked, 'Can't we just give it to Park Yong-jin?' and Lee Jae-myung also expressed that position," adding, "But it seems the Supreme Council members said, 'The previous primary must be excluded first.'"

However, on the same day at a campaign rally at Moran Five-way Intersection in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Lee Jae-myung unusually disclosed the primary results directly, saying, "In the Gangbuk-gu Eul party members' vote, Cho Su-jin received 53.75% and Park Yong-jin 46.25%, and in the nationwide party members' vote, Cho Su-jin got 76.85% and Park Yong-jin 23.15%." This was the exact opposite of the party leadership’s stance during the first primary when Park demanded the results be disclosed but was told it was a 'non-disclosure principle.'

On the afternoon of the 18th, Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who will face lawyer Jo Su-jin in the party primary for Seoul Gangbuk, held a press conference at the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Council to appeal for support.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a statement, Park said, "Knowing and accepting that this was a primary with a predetermined conclusion and a defeat that was obvious, I do not feel any new emotions," adding, "I hope that such incidents never happen again in the history of Korean politics and the future of the Democratic Party." On the last day of the primary, he visited the late former President Roh Moo-hyun’s gravesite in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam. Speaking to reporters right after the visit, Park likened his situation to the 1990 opposition of former President Roh to the 'Three-Party Merger,' saying, "I am also following the path of a fool, the path of a foolish politician."

Meanwhile, Park is expected to remain in the Democratic Party. Given his nationwide recognition gained through clashes with the pro-Lee faction, there is speculation both inside and outside the party that he may aim for the next Seoul mayoral election or build his influence to run again as a presidential candidate.