TK Nomination Interview, Kim Hyung-o Given One More Day... Pressure to Withdraw Candidacy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) nomination interviews for the United Future Party have been postponed by one day. As a large-scale cut-off (nomination exclusion) is expected in TK, the 'heart' of conservatism, and senior TK members are hesitant to make a decision, Kim Hyung-o, the chairman of the nomination committee, appears to be pressuring them to decide by giving them an extra day.

The United Future Party's nomination committee announced that the TK nomination interviews, originally scheduled to begin on the afternoon of the 19th, would be postponed by one day. Initially, the committee planned to conduct interviews for 30 candidates from 9 constituencies in the Gyeongnam region and 38 candidates from 11 constituencies in Daegu on that day.

Although the exact reason has not been disclosed, it is analyzed that since a sweeping reshuffle policy for the TK region has been decided, Chairman Kim gave an extra day and demanded that TK lawmakers make a decision to not run. Relatedly, there are reports that last week Chairman Kim personally called senior TK lawmakers with three or more terms to urge them to retire.

The reason Chairman Kim is taking a hardline approach is based on the recognition that innovative nominations are indispensable to avoid criticism that this integration is merely a "return to the Saenuri Party." Among these, the major reshuffle of personnel in the Busan-Gyeongnam (PK) and TK regions is the core of reform. Chairman Kim has already stated that the reshuffle ratio for these regions will be much higher than other areas, at 50-60%.

In the PK region, nine lawmakers, including Kim Moo-sung and Kim Do-eup, have declared they will not run, but in TK, only three lawmakers?Yoo Seung-min, Jeong Jong-seop, and Jang Seok-chun?have made such declarations. Therefore, Chairman Kim appears to be pressuring lawmakers who are subject to cut-off by giving them time to reconsider and decide not to run. Earlier, on the morning of the 18th, Chairman Kim unusually issued a statement saying, "Declaring not to run is an act that embodies the core conservative values of responsibility and dedication, which our party has been lacking," and praised such decisions. This is also an indirect pressure on TK lawmakers to withdraw.

While attention is focused on whether additional TK lawmakers will declare their withdrawal under Chairman Kim's pressure, there is still strong resistance within the TK region against the cut-off. Four-term senior lawmaker Joo Ho-young said on the 17th on YTN Radio's 'Noh Young-hee's Start Morning,' "TK has long provided the most support and also had the largest number of participants in street protests, yet instead of praise, there is dissatisfaction about why it should be subject to reshuffle," adding, "Because dissatisfaction is widespread, if nominations are made without reasonable reasons why TK and PK should be further replaced, there will be significant public resistance."

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