[Fact Check] Is It Really Possible to Permanently Ban Independent Candidates from Joining a Party?

Hwang Kyo-ahn, Future United Party Leader, Claims 'Admission Denied'... Lee Hae-chan, Democratic Party Leader, Also Claims "Permanent Expulsion if Running as Independent"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Jeon Jin-young] "Even if we have to amend the party constitution and regulations, we will permanently ban (independent candidates) from joining the party." This was stated by Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, at the election countermeasures meeting on the 30th. It is a warning message that politicians from the United Future Party who run as independents and win will not be allowed to join the party.

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also conveyed through senior spokesperson Kang Hoon-sik on the 16th that "If someone preparing to run in the April 15 general election within our party leaves the party after failing to receive nomination and runs as an independent, they will be permanently expelled."

The threat of banning independent candidates from joining the party is a recurring scene every general election. The 21st general election is no exception. The party leaders’ threats to independent candidates are a form of support fire to soothe wavering supporters. Independent politicians use the strategy of claiming they will return to their original party after winning to appeal to voters.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, and Kim Jong-in, general election committee chairman, are attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The issue of rejoining the party for independent candidates is stipulated in the party constitutions and regulations. Article 5 of the United Future Party’s regulations states, "If a candidate runs as an independent after leaving the party, the city/provincial party may permit re-entry with the approval of the Supreme Council."

Article 11 of the Democratic Party’s regulations states, "A person cannot rejoin the party unless one year has passed since leaving. However, this does not apply if the Central Party Membership Review Committee reviews and the Party Affairs Committee decides otherwise." This means that politicians who leave the party can rejoin after a certain period following a review and approval process.

If the party constitution and regulations are amended to prohibit independent candidates from rejoining after leaving, is permanent ban really possible? While it may be possible to make re-entry difficult for a certain period, permanently banning re-entry is practically impossible.

Even if the party leader leading the general election succeeds in inserting a permanent ban clause into the party constitution and regulations, a successor party leader can change it according to changes in the political environment. There are cases where prominent politicians ran as independents and later rejoined the party and became leadership members.

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Assemblyman Kim Moo-sung was not nominated by the Grand National Party in the 18th general election, ran as an independent (Busan Nam-gu Eul), won, then rejoined and served as floor leader. Assemblyman Lee Hae-chan also was not nominated by the Democratic Party in the 20th general election, ran as an independent (Sejong City), won, then rejoined and became the Democratic Party leader.

Furthermore, if disadvantages are imposed on those who left the party before amendments to the party constitution and regulations, there could be controversy over "retroactive application." Retroactive application undermines the stability of laws and systems. Introducing a system that permanently bans certain individuals from joining the party could face constitutional challenges. Article 11 of the Constitution stipulates that no one shall be discriminated against in the political sphere.

Park Sang-byeong, invited professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, pointed out, "The claim to permanently ban re-entry is an impossible political rhetoric," adding, "(Such claims) are typically unreasonable statements that appear every election."

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