Postponement of the General Election? The Eager Hopes of Latecomers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] "Considering the confirmed patients and their families, the medical staff fighting illness, and small business owners struggling due to poor sales, it is completely wrong for the political circles to focus on the difficulties of election campaigning, low voter turnout, or the pros and cons of the election."

This is a post by Min Byung-doo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, on his Facebook on the 25th. He strongly criticized the calls from some political circles for postponing the general election. Min said, "Now is not the time to talk about postponing the general election, but the time to discuss urgent and extensive measures such as emergency financial orders, supplementary budgets, good rent, and good loans," adding, "Unless COVID-19 develops to the extent that it severely affects the stable management of voting and counting, comparable to a natural disaster, now is the time for the political circles to contribute to the efforts and unity of the entire nation to prevent such a situation."

The rationale behind the postponement argument is that the general election should be a venue where political circles closely communicate with the people and appeal for support from each party. Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, said at the last party supreme council meeting he presided over on the 24th, "It is never desirable for democracy development to hold the general election, the most important national agenda, without the participation of the people." On the same day, Yoo Sung-yeop, chairman of the Alternative New Party's integration promotion committee, said, "It is very difficult to campaign because people are reluctant to visit village halls or senior centers," adding, "We need to seriously consider postponing the general election while monitoring the situation this week."

It was the day when the Bareunmirae Party, the Alternative New Party, and the Party for Democracy and Peace declared their merger into the 'Minsheng Party.' Since the support rates of each party are extremely low, there is an urgent need to quickly announce the integration and maximize synergy effects. Yoo's mention of 'village halls or senior centers' seems to reflect these difficulties. The Minsheng Party is regionally based in Honam. Regardless of the rationale, it can be interpreted as the hopes of the anxious latecomers. The People's Party led by Ahn Cheol-soo was also founded on the 23rd but has not seen a convention effect.

Political newcomers are also restless. A Democratic Party preliminary candidate said, "I have to get to know voters through close contact and read public sentiment, but my feet are completely tied, so it is frustrating."

The possibility of postponement is low. The Blue House, which holds the key, is not considering it, and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the day before, "Because we cannot create a state of legislative absence, I think there has never been a case of postponing the general election so far," adding, "I think the general election must be held as scheduled." Even if the election is postponed, the term of the 20th National Assembly is fixed, so a temporary gap would occur, which is problematic.

If the COVID-19 situation spreads to the extent that the general election must be postponed, it would mean an extremely deteriorated public opinion toward the government and ruling party. For the Democratic Party, maximum focus should be placed on quarantine efforts.

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