Ruling Party "Respect Voter Choice" vs Opposition "Are They Under Mass Hypnosis?" Democratic Party, By-Election Political Conflict

86% Party Member Vote in Favor of 'Seoul·Busan By-election Nominations'
Lee Nak-yeon "Repeated Apologies to Victimized Women... Will Nominate Moral Candidates"
Ahn Cheol-soo "Democratic Party Self-Acquits... Pay 83.8 Billion Won in Election Expenses"

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 2nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Democratic Party of Korea has concluded to field candidates in the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections scheduled for April next year after amending the party constitution through a vote of all party members, but political conflicts surrounding this decision continue.

On the 2nd, while the Democratic Party expressed apologies for causing the by-elections and stated their intention to nominate morally upright candidates, opposition parties including the People Power Party strongly criticized the ruling party's decision.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, opened the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly by saying, "Just because the will of the party members has been gathered does not mean that our fault for causing a vacancy in the administration of Seoul and Busan and triggering by-elections is excused."

He continued, "I apologize once again to the citizens of Seoul and Busan as well as to the people of the nation," and "I also repeatedly apologize to the victim woman in the sexual harassment allegations against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon."

Then, Lee emphasized, "The reason we intend to field candidates in the by-elections is because respecting voters' right to choose is the responsible attitude of a public party," adding, "Now the party will find the most moral and competent candidates through thorough verification and fair primaries and present them to the voters."

Earlier that morning, the Democratic Party announced that 86.64% of party members voted in favor in the all-member vote to nominate candidates for the Seoul and Busan mayoral elections next April.

Article 96, Paragraph 2 of the Democratic Party's constitution stipulates that "If an elected official belonging to the party loses their position due to serious misconduct such as corruption, and a by-election or re-election is held, the party shall not recommend a candidate for the relevant electoral district." This was established in 2015 during the time when Moon Jae-in led the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (the predecessor of the Democratic Party).

However, following the results of the all-member vote, the Democratic Party plans to proceed with amending the party constitution by adding a proviso that "it can be otherwise decided by an all-member vote" to the current party constitution regulation.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 2nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, opposition parties have fiercely opposed it, saying things like "Have they been put under collective hypnosis?" and calling it "N-times victimization" toward the victims.

Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement that day, saying, "The party constitution that says 'No candidate will be fielded when there is a self-responsibility reason' has been overridden by the method of an all-member vote," and sarcastically asked, "With as much as 86%, have they been put under collective hypnosis?"

Bae criticized strongly, saying, "The sexual violence allegations against the Democratic Party-affiliated mayors of Seoul and Busan are the 'first victimization.' The attacks by supporters on the victims are the 'second victimization.' Now, all Democratic Party members have stepped up to overturn the party constitution and field candidates, committing the 'third victimization' against the victims," adding, "If voters then vote for these Democratic Party candidates, that will be the 'fourth victimization.'"

He continued, "The ruthless victimization toward the victims seems endless. Where is the final destination of the 'N-times victimization' for the sake of a purpose?" and emphasized, "Has Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon 'impudently' overturned President Moon's will? Unless President Moon has approved the series of measures overturning the so-called 'Moon Jae-in clause,' he should express regret."

Kim Ki-hyun, a lawmaker from the same party, also urged President Moon to make a statement. On the same day, he appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and pointed out, "(The relevant party constitution) was heavily promoted and publicly declared as a major innovation when President Moon was party leader, but it has never been implemented and is being flipped like turning over a hand," adding, "At least President Moon should say something about this."

The People's Party also raised voices of criticism against the Democratic Party's decision. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "If they want to field candidates, the Democratic Party must pay the entire election cost of 83.8 billion won, which is covered by taxpayers' money."

Ahn said, "Since it is taxpayers' money that must be spent because of the Democratic Party, there is no excuse. Bearing this burden is the minimum duty," and criticized, "The current behavior of the Democratic Party is like a criminal, not a judge, conducting a self-trial and declaring themselves innocent."

He also said, "Lee Nak-yeon and the Democratic Party leadership must prostrate themselves in apology at Gwanghwamun Square for the sexual crimes of Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don," and added, "The prospective candidates who want to run with the Democratic Party's nomination are the same. 'People first' is not the case; 'Apology first' is."

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