Future Korea Party, Conflict Over Proportional Representation Order... Yeom Dong-ryul Also Opposes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Future Korea Party, a satellite party dedicated to proportional representation under the United Future Party, selected proportional representation candidates, but the decision was postponed due to divided opinions within the Supreme Council.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Future Korea Party's nomination management committee finalized a recommendation of 40 candidates, placing former Dong-A Ilbo editorial writer Cho Su-jin as number 1 on the proportional representation list. After a vote by the electorate, the list was submitted to the Supreme Council but failed to receive final approval.

The proportional representation candidates selected through the party member electorate vote were: number 1, former editorial writer Cho Su-jin; number 2, former Army Capital Defense Command Commander Shin Won-sik; number 3, Kim Ye-ji, director of the Korea Disabled Artists Association; number 4, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong; and number 5, lawyer Kim Jeong-hyun from the Law Office Gongjeong.

However, the Supreme Council, the final approval stage for the list, did not convene as it failed to meet the quorum of a majority of members, specifically three members. Only Representative Han Seon-gyo and Nomination Committee Chair Gong Byung-ho attended, while Supreme Council member Jeong Un-cheon, who was assigned number 18 on the proportional list, did not attend. Secretary-General Cho Hun-hyun reportedly left the meeting showing displeasure.

Supreme Council members who transferred their party affiliation from the United Future Party reportedly raised concerns that none of the candidates up to number 20, considered within the winning range, included any talent recruited from the former Liberty Korea Party. In particular, Yeom Dong-ryeol, head of the United Future Party’s Talent Recruitment Committee, issued a statement that day strongly criticizing, saying, "The Future Korea Party, which claims to be the representative conservative proportional party, has discarded the dedication of recruited talents like trash through self-contradictory nominations."

He added, "We cannot help but ask whether there was any unfair treatment or reverse discrimination against those who were recruited through talent recruitment," urging, "Please correct this through reconsideration and re-discussion."

However, Representative Han Seon-gyo emphasized, "Looking at the list, you can objectively see whether it was fair. Those who were recruited earlier were not given special treatment, and it was the same for the Korea Party," adding, "It was objectively reviewed." He also said, "(The failure of the Supreme Council’s approval today) is because some members are away," and "It will be resolved tomorrow."

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