Gong Byeong-ho "Han Seon-kyo received nomination requests from Park Jin and Park Hyeong-jun... Proportional representation plan adjustable"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Gong Byeong-ho, the head of the Future Korea Party's nomination committee, revealed that former representative Han Seon-kyo stated that former lawmaker Park Jin and Park Hyung-joon, the Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee chairman, had requested nominations. He also expressed that adjustments to the proportional representation candidate recommendation plan are possible.

On the 20th, Gong, the nomination committee head, said on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" program, "I heard former representative Han Seon-kyo say, 'I was asked about Park Jin and Park Hyung-joon, but due to certain conditions, it is difficult for me to accept,' " revealing this information.

However, regarding whether the request came from Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the Future United Party, he said, "It has not been confirmed."

Former representative Han resigned on the 19th after the proportional representation candidate recommendation plan was rejected in the election group vote, stating, "Reform has been blocked by corrupt power." Although he resigned voluntarily, many view it as a dismissal due to distrust from the parent party, the Future United Party. In this context, media reports suggested a conflict between former representative Han and leader Hwang over Park's nomination.

The Future Korea Party plans to hold a parliamentary meeting on the morning of the 20th to elect new leadership. Lawmakers Won Yoo-chul, Jeong Gap-yoon, Yeom Dong-ryeol, and Jang Seok-chun, who left the Future United Party the previous day and joined the Future Korea Party, are expected to form the new leadership. There is also speculation about the possible dismissal of Gong, the nomination committee head.

Regarding this, he said, "Once the new executive team is formed, they will decide. There are options to either slightly modify the existing nomination committee system to finalize it or dismiss it and create a new system, but there is not much time left." Only seven days remain until the candidate registration deadline on the 27th.

He reiterated that he adhered to principles amid the nomination controversy. Gong, the nomination committee head, explained, "I did not come in to do politics on behalf of representative Han Seon-kyo but was asked to change politics. Initially, I did not set the nomination direction arbitrarily; after establishing the overall direction to focus on nominations that protect free conservatism, the first plan was produced faithfully according to that."

Although former representative Han appealed not to change the proportional representation recommendation list and resigned, Gong expressed that further revisions are possible. He said, "Everything has leaked to the media and appears as the final plan, but both the first plan and the second revised plan are provisional and subject to amendment," adding, "Additional adjustments can be made at any time."

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