People Power Party: "The ruling party's by-election nomination vote is tertiary harm... Is this a Democratic Party-style apology?"

Kim Ye-ryeong, the new spokesperson for the People Power Party, is giving her inaugural address at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of September 10.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] On the 31st, as the Democratic Party of Korea began an all-member vote to decide whether to nominate candidates for next year's Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, the People Power Party fiercely criticized, saying, "Is this the Democratic Party's way of apologizing?"

On the 31st, Kim Ye-ryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "The Democratic Party's nomination for (Seoul and Busan) mayoral candidates can only be seen as a large-scale third victimization of the victims of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don," delivering a sharp rebuke.

Spokesperson Kim said, "If setting up a large-scale memorial at Seoul Plaza for former Mayor Park and the fading punishment for former Mayor Oh are considered secondary victimization, then the Democratic Party's current behavior is a clear third victimization," adding, "The ruling party must sincerely apologize not only to the female victims but also to all women of the Republic of Korea."

He continued, "Now, the Democratic Party and the Blue House should hang a backdrop that says, 'Our party prioritizes regime re-creation over people.' Do not degrade any remaining conscience with low-level rhetoric, but face the pain of the victims, the women of this land, and the people," he said.

Earlier, the Democratic Party announced that it would nominate candidates for the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections scheduled for April next year and had also announced plans to conduct an all-member vote to gauge party members' opinions.

The Democratic Party's Article 96, Clause 2 states, "If an elected official belonging to the party loses their position due to serious misconduct such as corruption, and a by-election is held, no candidate shall be recommended."

However, on the 29th, the Democratic Party decided at a policy members' meeting to amend the party constitution to allow nominating candidates for the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, and from the 31st, they began an all-member vote to decide on the amendment.

In response, on the 30th, Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized, "Originally, this election should not have been held at all. Since all the mayors from the Democratic Party committed sexual harassment and left their positions, it is being held reluctantly," adding, "830 billion won of taxpayers' money is being wasted to elect a one-year mayor. Since they promised the people, shouldn't they ask the people (instead of holding an all-member vote)?"

Kim Mi-ae, a member of the party's emergency committee, also strongly criticized the Democratic Party's all-member vote for by-election nominations, saying, "Now the Democratic Party is committing third victimization."

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