Democratic Party Unveils Transparency Measures Amid Nomination Donation Scandal: "Provincial and City Party Chairpersons Barred from Nomination Committees"

Mandatory Exclusion of Stakeholders from Voting
Introduction of Public Briefings by Nomination Management Committees

The Democratic Party of Korea has prohibited provincial and city party chairpersons from participating in candidate nomination committees for the June 3 local elections. The party has also made it mandatory to exclude stakeholders from voting and to require public briefings by the nomination management committee, thereby strengthening transparency. These measures have been implemented to enhance transparency in response to allegations of accepting nomination-related donations.

On January 8, the Democratic Party's Local Election Planning Task Force held a general meeting and then announced measures to improve transparency in the nomination process to reporters. The task force decided that provincial and city party chairpersons will not be allowed to participate in the local nomination committees. The Democratic Party was previously embroiled in allegations that Assembly members Kang Sunwoo and Kim Byungkee received nomination-related donations during the last local elections.

Yonhap News Agency

Cho Seungrae, Secretary General of the Democratic Party and head of the task force, explained, "We are prohibiting the participation of provincial and city party chairpersons in the nomination committee, and restricting the participation of regional committee heads in the nomination committee except for essential personnel. The central party will monitor whether these guidelines are properly implemented." He added, "We will also make it mandatory to exclude stakeholders from voting during the nomination process. As a principle, anyone with a personal stake in the region or with connections to relatives or other stakeholders will be excluded from the nomination review." Secretary General Cho further clarified that "political, familial, and financial interests are all included in the definition of stakeholders to be excluded."

The party also plans to establish regulations for managing records related to nominations. These regulations will cover materials submitted by candidates themselves, data from suitability assessments and interview reviews conducted by the party, meeting minutes, reports or tips related to nominations, and documents submitted regarding any allegations. Briefings during nomination management meetings will also be made mandatory. Secretary General Cho stated, "When the nomination management bodies hold operational meetings, they must provide transparent public briefings." Additionally, a Central Integrated Verification Center will be established to respond to false or manipulated information, and actions will be taken following verification.

Regarding the parliamentary by-elections to be held alongside the local elections, the Democratic Party announced that strategic nominations will be the principle. Secretary General Cho said, "Currently, Supreme Court rulings have been issued in two parliamentary districts, resulting in by-elections being scheduled in a total of four districts. There are also other ongoing trials, and some members may resign depending on the party's nominations, so by-elections could be held in four to ten districts. These will naturally be managed by a separate nomination committee, but as a rule, strategic nominations will be the principle, whether it is a single candidate or a contested primary."