Korean Party's Candidate Committee: "We Will Not Fully Accept Applications for Party Leader-Level Nominations"

"Consideration of Cutoff Application for Non-Affiliated Persons"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The Liberty Korea Party's Nomination Management Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Nomination Committee) for constituency National Assembly candidates announced on the 29th that it "will not accept as is" the nomination applications from candidates who are former party leaders or metropolitan government heads.

Kim Hyung-o, chairman of the Nomination Committee, told reporters after the third meeting held at the National Assembly that regarding candidates who are former party leaders or metropolitan government heads, "The Nomination Committee will not simply accept their applications as they are but will judge and review them from various perspectives."

Chairman Kim stated, "There was a considerable amount of opinion in the meeting that not only incumbent lawmakers should be subject to cutoffs but also non-incumbent figures should be cut off." He added, "In the case of non-incumbents, if they have repeatedly lost elections or suffered large vote margins, or caused disgraceful controversies like former Minister Cho Kuk, although they have worked hard, there was discussion that they should be cut off. No conclusion has been reached yet, so we will continue to review this."

Chairman Kim said, "To allow many new figures to enter and open a new terrain for the party, we inevitably have to boldly apply cutoffs to incumbent lawmakers." He added, "The party had an initial plan, but since more detailed review is needed, it was not finalized today."

Chairman Kim explained, "Public opinion polls targeting the general public will be the main factor, and party member opinion polls will play a supplementary role."

Regarding the cutoff ratio by region, Chairman Kim said, "We reached a consensus to respect the proposal from the General Election Planning Team (cutoff of one-third of incumbent lawmakers)." He added, "Some Nomination Committee members suggested deciding cutoffs after completing opinion polls, so no conclusion was made today."

Chairman Kim said, "As a special preferential measure for political newcomers, we will comprehensively review the bonus point system and consider abolishing it altogether to lower the threshold for political newcomers."

Chairman Kim stated, "Even if youth receive the maximum 50% bonus points, if they get 10% of the votes in the primary, the final score is only 15%. Although no final decision has been made yet, we considered that with the current bonus point system, it is quite difficult for youth, newcomers, and women to pass the primary threshold."

Regarding the subtle rift perceived between the Nomination Committee and the party leadership after Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn appeared on the conservative YouTube channel 'Shinui Hansu' the previous day and stated that the party's Supreme Council could sanction the Nomination Committee for its "wrong decisions," Chairman Kim emphasized, "We are moving forward as one team."

Chairman Kim said, "However, the task of nominations will be carried out by the Nomination Committee. Since Representative Hwang requested innovative nominations, we will respect his intention and proceed with innovative nominations." He added, "There has been nothing that caused misunderstanding or distrust between the Representative and the Nomination Committee, and there will be nothing in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.