"Independent Election Followed by Rejoining Party" The Reason Behind Jang Ye-chan's Confidence [News Explanation]

⑩Return in Glory After Independent Election Victory, Past Cases
Despite Threats "Can't Come Back" in 21st Independent Run
All 4 Elected Returned to Original Parties
7 Made Comebacks in 20th Session

"Running as an independent candidate and then rejoining the party after winning will never be allowed." (Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party)

Jang Ye-chan, a former Supreme Council member whose nomination as the People Power Party candidate for Suyeong District, Busan was canceled, declared his intention to run as an independent and stated he would rejoin the party after winning. Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, has issued a 'no rejoining' card. On the 7th, he said, "Running as an independent is his own choice," but firmly stated, "It is inconsistent for someone who opposes the party's position and wins to rejoin the party." Can Jang, whose nomination was canceled due to controversial remarks, successfully return triumphantly?

Jang Ye-chan, former Supreme Youth Committee Member of the People Power Party. [Source=Yonhap News]

In the past, there have been several cases in the People Power Party where candidates who were cut off from nominations (excluded) ran as independents in protest and requested to rejoin the party after winning. The common factor is that they were mostly veteran lawmakers with strong local bases. They seemed confident that they could win even without the party's support by running as independents. Another cause was the party's nomination strategy, which included penalties for veteran lawmakers as part of reform measures, leading mainly veteran lawmakers to suffer disadvantages in nominations.

During the 21st general election, there was also a threat that "those who run as independents in protest of nomination results will never be allowed to rejoin." In March 2020, Hwang Kyo-ahn, then leader of the United Future Party, defined running as an independent after leaving the party as a "relevant act" and stated, "We will take strong measures such as permanently banning reentry (rejoining) by amending party rules, and party members who support independents will also face severe disciplinary actions."

However, after Hwang resigned taking responsibility for the election defeat, all four lawmakers who left the party during the nomination process and won as independents rejoined. At that time, Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, was a four-term lawmaker elected in Seoul Songpa-gap and Dongdaemun districts, a former party leader, governor of Gyeongnam Province, and a presidential contender. He ran as an independent in Daegu Suseong and defeated Lee In-seon, the United Future Party candidate, winning his fifth term. The United Future Party won 11 out of 12 constituencies in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), with Mayor Hong securing one, effectively sweeping the TK region.

Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong is a four-term (three-term at the time) lawmaker from Gangneung, Gangwon Province. During the 21st general election, since Hong Yoon-sik of the United Future Party was running, there were concerns that conservative votes might split, but Kwon won with 49,618 votes (40.84%), defeating Kim Kyung-soo of the Democratic Party, who received 47,088 votes (38.76%). Additionally, lawmakers Kim Tae-ho and Yoon Sang-hyun were elected as independents after leaving the party in Gyeongnam Sancheong-Hamyang-Geochang-Hapcheon and Incheon Dong-Michuhol (formerly Nam-gu Eul), respectively.

All seven lawmakers who left the party in protest of the 20th general election nomination results were also elected as independents and rejoined. That year was marked by intense nomination conflicts known as the 'Okswae Incident.' After being excluded from nominations, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min ran as an independent in Daegu Dong-gu Eul and won a landslide victory with 75.7% of the vote against Lee Seung-cheon of the Democratic Party. Current five-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young also secured his fourth term in Daegu Suseong, and current three-term lawmaker Jang Je-won was re-elected in his constituency, Sasang District, Busan. Former lawmakers Kang Gil-bu and Ahn Sang-soo, as well as lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun and Lee Cheol-gyu, also ran as independents and won.

From the party's perspective, there is an advantage in gaining additional seats. In June 2016, the Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) reinstated seven lawmakers who left the party during the nomination process and won as independents. Thanks to this, the Saenuri Party's seats increased to 129, regaining the position of the largest party in the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, which had 122 seats at the time.