Unification Party Nomination Conflict... Growing Voice of Hwang Kyo-an, Kim Jong-in Building Justification

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader, and other supreme council members are attending the supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] As controversies surrounding the nomination process of the United Future Party continue to grow, Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn expressed at the Supreme Council meeting his intention to reconsider some of the nomination results. This decision seems to be partly to reduce internal party noise, but also influenced by the demand from former Democratic Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, who is strongly mentioned as the head of the election committee, to 'minimize nomination controversies.' The nomination committee stated that it would 'follow the party constitution and regulations,' but clearly drew the line against the election committee's interference in nominations. The conflict between the election committee and the nomination committee over nomination issues appears to be surfacing.

◆ Hwang Kyo-ahn's Decision: "No Nomination Can Be Perfect" = On the 12th, at the Supreme Council meeting held in the National Assembly main building, Representative Hwang said, "Seeing continuous issues raised inside and outside the party, I have come to think that some of the nomination committee's decisions so far need to be reconsidered."

He added, "Although the nomination committee has made many efforts and hard work, some unfair cases have been pointed out, and there is considerable internal opposition. While no nomination can be perfect, I believe some adjustments are necessary to unite our will and achieve a landslide victory in the general election." He continued, "As party leader, I ask the Supreme Council to discuss this matter in depth, and I also ask the nomination committee chairman and members to actively and openly consider the party's position."

The reason Representative Hwang, who had previously delegated full authority to nomination committee chairman Kim Hyung-o, requested a reconsideration is due to recent controversies such as accusations of 'private recommendations' surrounding the nomination results. Those who were cut off from nominations have expressed intentions to run as independents in various regions including Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Busan. Additionally, there has been considerable noise, such as three-term lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who served as an impeachment prosecutor for former President Park Geun-hye during her impeachment, being cut off, and lawmaker Joo Gwang-deok appealing against the unfairness of the cut-off.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Will Kim Jong-in's Election Committee Also Change Nomination Results? = Former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, who is strongly mentioned as the head of the election committee, has also demanded a resolution to the nomination issues. In an interview with Yonhap News, he said, "If the aftereffects of the nominations affect the election, I cannot serve as the head of the election committee," adding, "Given the current situation of nomination aftereffects within the United Future Party, I have no choice but to judge how this will impact the election." This is interpreted as a request to resolve the controversy surrounding chairman Kim of the nomination committee.

The election committee, originally scheduled to launch in early this month, has been delayed due to the blockage of the appointment of the head of the election committee. It has been launched later than even the Democratic Party, which launched its election committee on the 20th of last month, and the Justice Party. The participation of former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in is urgently needed. Former Liberty Korea Party emergency committee chairman Kim Byung-joon also appeared on BBS Radio's 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal' on the same day, emphasizing the need for Kim Jong-in's participation by saying, "He has outstanding ability to create messages that can shake the election landscape."

The nomination committee responded to Representative Hwang's request for reconsideration by asserting principles but reacted sensitively to the election committee's involvement. Lee Seok-yeon, vice chairman of the nomination committee, told reporters just before entering the Supreme Council meeting that day, "If the Supreme Council has objections to the nomination committee's decisions, it can request a reconsideration from the nomination committee," adding, "The nomination committee can discuss the reconsideration according to the party constitution and regulations," expressing a fundamental stance.

Within the party, there are rumors that former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in is demanding partial nomination rights as a condition for accepting the head of the election committee position. When he served as the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party, he held nomination rights and carried out personnel reforms that led to victory in the 20th general election. If Kim Jong-in joins the United Future Party's election committee, there is a possibility that some existing nominations, including in Seoul, could be overturned. Regarding this, chairman Kim of the nomination committee dismissed the possibility at a press conference on the 11th, saying, "The election committee cannot adjust nomination issues," and added, "Kim Jong-in is a person of great capacity and strong character."

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