"Like Lee Hae-chan," Will Independent Candidacies Continue Following Democratic Party Nomination Disputes?

Only 11 Independent Candidates Elected in the 20s General Election
Party Criticism Must Also Be Considered

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Attention is focused on whether declarations of independent candidacy from the Democratic Party will continue, led by Min Byung-doo, a three-term member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Within the Democratic Party, lawmakers such as Min and Yoo Seung-hee have been openly expressing dissatisfaction with the party's nomination process.

On the morning of the 15th, Min posted on his Facebook, "I agree with the Democratic Party's intention to nurture young politicians, but even if I help the youth with a spirit of putting the party first and myself second, the conditions are too difficult to expect a miracle," adding, "I will create a one-on-one contest with the United Future Party candidate and win."

Min also hinted at a possible return after winning. The 15th, when Min suggested running as an independent, is the same date when Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan declared his independent candidacy after being cut off in 2016. On the 8th, Min posted Lee's statement from that time, saying, "I feel the same way." Lee criticized, "The Kim Jong-in emergency committee is trying to gloss over the issue with political judgment," and after running as an independent in Sejong City, he won and returned to the party. Earlier, on the 5th, the Democratic Party designated Min's constituency, Dongdaemun B, as a "Youth Priority Strategic Area," effectively cutting off Min from the nomination.

So far, out of 130 incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers, a total of 14 have been cut off or lost in primaries. They include Oh Je-se, Min Byung-doo, Shin Chang-hyun, Jung Jae-ho, Lee Seok-hyun, Lee Jong-gul, Shim Jae-kwon, Yoo Seung-hee, Lee Chun-seok, Shin Kyung-min, Son Geum-ju, Kwon Mi-hyuk, Jung Eun-hye, and Geum Tae-seop. Among them, Yoo Seung-hee strongly protested the "unfair primary" by visiting the Democratic Party leader's office with her husband on the 12th, where party officials tried to restrain her.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Among non-incumbents, Moon Seok-gyun, former standing vice-chairman of the Democratic Party's Uijeongbu Gap district, is also reportedly preparing to run as an independent. Moon, son of National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, had planned to run in Uijeongbu Gap but gave up amid controversy over "hereditary nomination." Subsequently, the Democratic Party strategically nominated Oh Young-hwan, a former firefighter and newly recruited talent for the general election, in this district, but Moon continues to meet with local residents. According to election law, the deadline for candidate registration is the 27th of this month.

However, running as an independent is considered a difficult option. In the last 20th general election, only 11 out of 253 district lawmakers, including Lee Hae-chan and Hong Ui-rak, were elected as independents. Notably, in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas where Min and Moon have been preparing to run, no independent candidates were elected.

Relations with the party are also an issue. A Democratic Party official expressed concern, saying, "Running as an independent in protest of the nomination is treated as a permanent break with the party." Jang Kyung-tae, the Democratic Party Youth Committee chairman preparing for the primary in Min's district, criticized it as "an act of disloyalty." Jang said, "The Democratic Party has supported the lawmaker in every way. If you enjoy the rights as a party member, you must fulfill your duties as a party member," emphasizing, "We will respond without exception with a principle of zero tolerance toward acts of betrayal and division that lead to party disunity." On the morning of the same day, Jang held a press conference with Democratic Party youth members including Jeon Yong-gi, university student committee chairman, and Hwang Hee-du, co-chairman of the central election committee, targeting candidate Moon.

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