Handonghun "Revival of Jigu-dang, Political Reform for Fair Competition"

Han: "However, if privileges are not abolished, it is a predictable political bargain"
Yoon Sang-hyun, Na Kyung-won join the call for district party revival
Some in political circles oppose district party revival
Hong Joon-pyo: "Abolishing district parties is part of eradicating corrupt politics"

Former People Power Party emergency committee member Han Dong-hoon stated on the 30th, "I believe that now is the time to break down the walls of vested interests and revive the district party so that political newcomers and young people can compete fairly on the ground, which is 'political reform'." This is interpreted as a direct rebuttal to concerns that reviving the district party could revert politics to 20 years ago when 'Cha-dtaegi' was rampant.

On the same day, Han posted on his social media (SNS) Facebook, "20 years ago, when Cha-dtaegi was widespread, abolishing the district party was political reform," and left this message. He also emphasized that reviving the district party is "also about 'closing the gap' in the political arena."

However, he added, "Our People Power Party must fulfill the political reform tasks of abolishing privileges promised to the people during the general election process," and "Otherwise, the public may view the revival of the district party not as political reform for the people but as a blatant bargaining among politicians."

Handonghun, the General Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is making a statement regarding early voting on the 4th at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

The People Power Party's proposal to revive the district party was triggered when former committee member Han recently emphasized the necessity of the district party during meetings with newly elected and defeated candidates in the general election. The argument is that the district party is necessary to establish a foundation where new politicians outside the National Assembly can raise political funds and carry out activities. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the major opposition Democratic Party, also expressed strong support for reviving the district party at the Democratic Party member conference held in Busan on the 23rd.

Yoon Sang-hyun and Na Kyung-won, who are mentioned as potential next leaders of the People Power Party, also voiced their opinions in favor of reviving the district party. Yoon posted on SNS the day before, stating, "'Clean politics, transparent politics, and politics that spend less money' are possible, but we must face the fact that 'politics without spending money at all' is not possible," and added, "The revival of the district party and its support committee will be a new political reform that fairly practices clean politics and strengthens grassroots democracy and party democracy."

Na said on CBS Radio that day, "(Reviving the district party) is something that should definitely be done," and added, "Having served as an out-of-parliament committee chair for four years, I know that fundraising is a problem. In-parliament members can raise political funds, but those outside cannot."

Former lawmaker Choi Jae-hyung also said on MBC Radio that day, "I also became an out-of-parliament party committee chair, but there is very little room for activity. It could encourage illegal acts," and "The current system that makes it almost impossible for out-of-parliament party committee chairs to operate should be improved." Out-of-parliament organization chairs of the People Power Party also issued a statement that day, strongly urging, "The ruling and opposition parties should unite and immediately proceed with legislation."

The ruling and opposition parties are expected to submit bills on reviving the district party on the same day. Yoon plans to propose the "Regional Politics Revitalization Act," which includes the revival of the district party, while Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae plans to submit the "Political Party Act Amendment," which includes the revival of the district party, as the first bill.

On the other hand, some in the political sphere criticize that reviving the district party is a notion that regresses Korean politics to 20 years ago. Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, met with reporters after a lecture at the "Meeting to Prepare for a New Future" regular seminar held at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, the day before, and expressed opposition, saying, "I oppose the revival of the district party," and added, "(The abolition of the district party) was part of political reform and an effort to eradicate corrupt politics. It is not right to seek the votes of out-of-parliament committee chairs ahead of the party convention."