"Outsider Pretending to Be True Bone"... United Party Begins TK Interviews Amid Growing Nomination Backlash

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] Voices within the party are growing in opposition to the strategic nominations decided by the Future United Party's Nomination Management Committee. Discontent is emerging not only from Supreme Council member Kim Soon-rye and Representative Min Kyung-wook, who were cut off (excluded from nomination) due to the 'exclusion of offensive remarks' nomination policy, but also within their constituencies. Meanwhile, starting from the 2nd, the Nomination Committee will begin interviews for Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK) regions, which were postponed due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 2nd, Supreme Council member Kim publicly protested against the Nomination Committee during the party's Supreme Council meeting, stating, "The committee's decision sacrificed me under the guise of innovation." Although she applied for nomination in Seongnam Bundang-eul, she was effectively cut off. Kim said, "I was cut off without a primary," and protested, "If problems arising from the opposition struggle for the country and the people are shifted onto individuals in this way, who will be loyal to the party and lead the fight?"

She also criticized the committee for excluding a large number of so-called 'pro-Park' faction lawmakers. Kim said, "Did the committee act arbitrarily regardless of the party's philosophy?" She sharpened her criticism, saying, "Recently, the committee's incomprehensible nominations have sparked public criticism that it is targeting a specific faction that has disappeared within the party, and external figures involved in the unification are holding exclusive events while those who devoted themselves to the party on the asphalt streets have been ousted like second-class citizens."

Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, who served three terms in Incheon Michuhol-eul, also strongly opposed his cut-off and the nomination of incumbent three-term Representative Ahn Sang-soo in the same district, announcing his intention to run as an independent. Representative Min Kyung-wook, excluded from nomination due to controversy over offensive remarks, broke his silence on the same day by posting a meaningful message on Facebook: "It ain't over till it's over."

There is also growing opposition from prospective candidates who have long established their bases against the committee's sudden strategic nominations. In particular, the day before, the committee's decision to nominate a candidate who changed the constituency to Cheongju Heungdeok sparked strong objections from existing prospective candidates in the area. Kim Yang-hee, prospective candidate for Cheongju Heungdeok from the United Party, issued a statement saying, "Any act to take away a political junior's constituency cannot be tolerated under any excuse." Prospective candidate Lee Gyu-seok also criticized, saying, "They have stabbed the hearts of political juniors who have worked hard in Heungdeok-gu with a knife of betrayal."

Meanwhile, the United Party's Nomination Committee will conduct non-face-to-face interviews for the TK region from this day, where interviews could not be properly held due to the spread of COVID-19. Video interviews will be conducted via Android smartphones capable of video calls, and candidates must wait in a space isolated from the outside, with their faces clearly visible from the front, starting 20 minutes before the interview time.

Results for the PK region will also be announced soon. The PK region, a stronghold of the United Party, includes figures such as former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Tae-ho, who refused the committee's requests. Former leader Hong was asked to run in a difficult district in Seoul but designated Yangsan-eul in Gyeongnam as a difficult district himself and set up his campaign office there. Former Governor Kim insisted on running in his hometown and reportedly also rejected the committee's strategic nomination proposal for Changwon Seongsan. In the case of Representative Lee Eon-ju, who is rumored to be strategically nominated for Busan Jung and Yeongdo districts, prospective candidates in the area are demanding a primary, claiming it is unfair.

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