Unprecedented Satellite Party Election... Illegal Boundary 'Tightrope Walking' Campaign

On the 2nd, when the official election campaign for the 21st National Assembly election began, residents in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, were looking at election posters. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The 21st general election, with official campaigning starting on the 2nd, is being held amid the unprecedented emergence of proportional satellite parties. Since election campaigning in support of other parties violates election laws, parties that are effectively 'one body' must act as if they are not. Following the satellite party 'trickery,' a 'turning a blind eye' style of campaigning has appeared. This could potentially lead to illegal controversy.

The Democratic Party of Korea and the Together Citizens' Party held a joint kickoff ceremony at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the same day. The day before, they also held their first joint election countermeasures committee meeting. The United Future Party also held a joint declaration ceremony for 'Saving the Nation and Reviving the Economy' together with the Future Korea Party on the same day.

The National Election Commission sees no problem with joint meetings, but is closely monitoring whether any cases arise that could be seen as campaigning for another party.

Yoon Ho-jung, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, recently asked the Election Commission, "Is it possible for the Democratic Party, as a political party, to include content about allying with the Together Citizens' Party, which is a 'party' rather than a 'candidate,' for promotional purposes or based on party platform and policies, or to display expressions supporting the Citizens' Party on party promotional banners?" For example, whether "Candidate is Democratic Party, Party is Together Citizens' Party" is allowed.

The Election Commission's answer is "not allowed." The Commission stated, "If a banner posted at a party election office under the Public Official Election Act includes information beyond the scope necessary for promoting one's own party, such as stating an alliance with a specific party or expressing support, recommendation, or opposition to a specific party, it may violate the law depending on the nature of the act."

Previously, it was clarified that two parties jointly forming an election countermeasures committee also violates the Public Official Election Act. Candidates cannot participate as members of an election countermeasure organization for another party or for candidates in the same or overlapping electoral districts. However, a candidate in one electoral district is not restricted from participating as a member of an election countermeasure organization for a candidate from another party in a different electoral district. Formally, the Democratic Party and the United Future Party are standing on the borderline of illegality.

Each party uses expressions like 'brothers,' but they are anxious to avoid any violations of election laws. At the meeting the day before, Choi Bae-geun, co-representative of the Citizens' Party, said, "The Democratic Party is the word that pulls victory, and the Citizens' Party is the cart that carries victory," but the Democratic Party leadership only mentioned "thanks to the Citizens' Party" without directly referring to the Citizens' Party. The Citizens' Party also requested Democratic Party district candidates to refrain from making statements supporting the Citizens' Party, such as "district is Democratic Party, proportional is Citizens' Party."

The United Future Party and the Future Korea Party are also setting standards and proceeding cautiously. Jo Su-jin, spokesperson for the Future Korea Party, said the day before, "As long as one talks only about their own party and themselves, it does not violate election laws," adding, "There were election alliances in 2010 and 2012. This is directly applied from when the opposition Democratic Party and the Unified Progressive Party led by Lee Jung-hee did so."

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