Independent Candidacy Hint and Evidence Preservation Request to Court... Democratic Party Nomination Controversy

Democratic Party Completes 87% of District Nominations
Min Byung-doo: "Same Sentiment as Leader Lee Hae-chan 4 Years Ago... Will Announce Position on 15th"
Yoo Seung-hee: "Filed Evidence Preservation Request with Court over Primary Election Fraud Allegations"
Shin Kyung-min: "As an Incumbent Lawmaker, I Will Not Stand Beside Nomination Candidates"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] As the Democratic Party's district nominations are coming to a close, voices of dissatisfaction with the nominations are growing louder. They are raising suspicions about the Democratic Party's nomination process and are declaring that they will not support the nominated candidates, even suggesting the possibility of running as independents against the nominees.

Min Byeongdu, a Democratic Party lawmaker from Seoul Dongdaemun-eul who was 'cut off' from the nomination, announced on the morning of the 9th on his Facebook, "I will reveal my final position on March 15." This statement is interpreted as hinting at the possibility of running as an independent. Since Min is a three-term lawmaker who has been elected twice in this district, it is believed that even if he runs as an independent, his local base will be stronger than other candidates.

Min also mentioned the case of party leader Lee Hae-chan, who ran as an independent after being cut off but was re-admitted to the Democratic Party after winning. On Facebook the day before, Min said, "I read the statement Lee Hae-chan wrote four years ago," adding, "I feel the same way." In the statement Lee issued on March 15, 2016, after not receiving the nomination for Sejong City, he said, "The Kim Jong-in emergency committee is trying to gloss over this as a political judgment. Politics is not done that way. The decisions of a major party must have justification."

Yoo Seung-hee, who lost in the primary, filed a petition with the court for evidence preservation and verification regarding the Democratic Party's primary process. After losing the Seoul Seongbuk-gap primary to Kim Young-bae, a former Seongbuk District Mayor and former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary, Yoo held a press conference and raised questions about the Democratic Party's primary process. Yoo said, "I have filed a petition with the court for evidence preservation and verification related to allegations of primary fraud," adding, "The truth will be revealed. Darkness cannot overcome light."

Shin Kyung-min, who lost the Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul primary to candidate Kim Min-seok, also stated on his Facebook the day before, "As an incumbent lawmaker, I have decided not to stand by the nominated candidate," indicating that although they are from the same party, he will not assist in the election. Shin criticized, "It is inappropriate and complicated to explain the Democratic Party's nomination process," adding, "Knowing the candidate's true nature and the nomination process, I cannot lie to the voters."

Jeong Jae-ho, who was the first to publicly declare he would request a reconsideration, said on the 4th, "Even if the party's discriminatory treatment of disabled people was wrong, everything started because of my collapse. I intend to conclude the nomination dispute." Jeong was the second incumbent lawmaker to be cut off. A Democratic Party official said, "In reality, requests for reconsideration of primaries and nominations rarely succeed," reflecting the atmosphere.

There is even a faction that has formed an independent party. Jeong, a former lawmaker who was deemed ineligible in the nomination screening due to the 'Me Too' controversy, founded the Open Democratic Party yesterday along with independent lawmaker Sohn Hye-won. This party, which includes a significant number of Democratic Party members, is expected to face issues regarding 'dual party membership.' The Open Democratic Party states, "Currently, dual party membership is prohibited under the Political Parties Act," but adds, "However, there is no administrative or judicial way to verify the party membership of ordinary members."

On the other hand, about 30 incumbents including floor leader Lee In-young, secretary-general Yoon Ho-jung, and Supreme Council member Park Ju-min have been nominated without primaries. As the Democratic Party's nomination process nears completion, controversy has also arisen over the party's pledge of a '30% female nomination' rate. Of the 253 districts, with nominations confirmed in 220, only 14% (30 women) have been nominated in the districts so far.

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