"Is Reversing the Past Political Reform?"
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized the 'revival of district party organizations' proposed by the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties, saying it merely repackages a return to the unfavorable original system as 'political reform,' calling it a "really unreasonable argument."
On the 18th, Mayor Oh said on BBS Buddhist Broadcasting System radio, "The law (commonly called the 'Oh Se-hoon Law' that abolished district party organizations) was enacted 15 years ago, and the complete abolition of support groups aimed to eliminate a politically contentious structure and promote party normalization within the National Assembly," explaining his stance.
Mayor Oh pointed out that the revival of the district party system is a product of political engineering discussions that emerged during the election process of party leaders from both sides, and emphasized that it should be viewed from the perspective of the people, regardless of political advantages or interests.
He said, "(The revival of district parties) came up during the party convention phase where party branch chiefs need to secure votes," adding, "After the election, we need to calmly and objectively consider what truly constitutes political reform for the people."
Addressing the leadership of both parties, including People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who initiated the discussion on reviving district parties, he said, "I am very concerned because it feels like the two party leaders have almost reached an agreement, and I sincerely hope they reconsider."
He also criticized the argument from some quarters that district parties should be revived to lower the entry barriers for 'political newcomers.'
He noted, "Those who hold the position of party branch chiefs desperately want (the revival)," but pointed out that not all who served as branch chiefs during elections receive nominations. He reiterated, "(The revival of district parties) is a system favorable to certain individuals," adding, "It is essentially a gift that benefits those with vested interests."
District party organizations, which are local party subunits centered around regional committee heads with offices and the ability to receive donations, were targeted for abolition after being identified as the root cause of the so-called 'cash-for-votes scandal' during the 2002 presidential election campaign.
In 2004, the district party system disappeared through legislation known as the 'Oh Se-hoon Law' (amendments to the Political Funds Act, Political Parties Act, and Public Official Election Act), and since then, local organizations have been transformed into party branch committees and regional committees with restricted fundraising capabilities.
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