Following Choi Jae-sung... 'Chotbul' groups also publicly demand no proportional representation candidates from the Democratic Party

Senior figures from civil society held a press conference on the morning of the 28th at Heungsadan in Daehangno, proposing the establishment of the Political Reform Alliance to block the Future Korea Party and complete political reform.

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung and Lim Chun-han] Civic groups advocating the inheritance of the 'Candlelight Spirit' plan to publicly demand that the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) refrain entirely from nominating proportional representation candidates. They argue that since the purpose of the semi-open proportional representation system has been undermined by the creation of satellite parties by the United Future Party, the DPK must make a decisive move to increase the number of seats for minor parties. Previously, DPK lawmaker Choi Jae-sung expressed a similar opinion, deepening the party's dilemma.

On the 4th, groups including the Candlelight Succession Coalition, National Sovereignty Constitutional Reform Action, and Reform Coalition for People's Livelihood announced plans to hold a press conference titled "Democratic Party Must Decide to Give Up Proportional Nominations" on the 5th at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The Candlelight Succession Coalition is a gathering of organizations that participated in the impeachment rallies against former President Park Geun-hye and jointly respond to various issues.

These groups stated, "When the DPK's support is around 40%, it can only secure about 7 proportional seats, risking the entrenchment of a two-party system," and argued, "If the DPK yields, minor parties with over 3% support could secure approximately 26 seats."

They added, "Since it is possible to secure more seats than the United Future Party's cunning satellite parties, the DPK should not be penny-wise and pound-foolish but make a significant concession to strengthen the reform coalition."

This stance also opposes the proportional representation-only 'Political Reform Alliance' approach being promoted by other senior progressive civic leaders. They believe that if the DPK dispatches proportional candidates to an alliance party, it cannot escape the perception of being a satellite party.

Song Un-hak, representative of the Candlelight Succession Coalition, said, "If the DPK sends proportional candidates to an alliance party, no matter how it is packaged formally, it will inevitably be called the 'DPK's second team,'" and added, "They should cleanly refrain from nominating proportional candidates and allow minor parties to receive proportional support."

He continued, "There is also the aspect that the DPK must take responsibility for not creating safeguards to prevent satellite parties when the election law was initially revised. On the other hand, to maintain the reform coalition with the Justice Party and the Minsheng Party, the DPK should not nominate proportional candidates."

Within the DPK, lawmaker Choi Jae-sung held a press conference on the 2nd, stating, "We must not neglect the destruction of democracy over a few seats. We will not nominate a single proportional representative candidate and appeal to voters not to vote for the Future Korea Party, which grotesquely distorts public opinion."

The DPK faces a crossroads between dispatching proportional candidates to an alliance party, abstaining from proportional nominations, or pursuing an independent path. Justice Party chief spokesperson lawmaker Kim Jong-dae appeared on KBS Radio's "Kim Kyung-rae's Strong Current Affairs" that day, saying, "What we want to know precisely is whether the DPK has the sincerity to relinquish its vested interests and fully realize the semi-open proportional system. If so, why would discussions be impossible? It is entirely possible." However, Kim later clarified in a briefing that "the Justice Party is willing to discuss joint measures at the progressive reform forces level to prevent the United Future Party from securing a majority of seats. However, participation in a 'proportional representation alliance party' is not under consideration."

The Minsheng Party is also grappling with the 'hot potato' issue of whether to participate in a proportional alliance party. Kim Jeong-hwa, co-chair from the Bareunmirae Party faction, criticized at the supreme council meeting that "Are we going to become accomplices to the United Future Party's malicious fraud that collapses legal order and confuses voters? Whether satellite parties or proportional alliances, the essence is just proportional representation robbery." On the other hand, Park Joo-hyun, co-chair from the Democratic Peace Party faction, expressed that consideration is possible on the premise of concessions such as the DPK not nominating proportional candidates at all.

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