"Confirming Primary Rules as Usual... Party Member Voting and Public Opinion Each 50%"

Female bonus points remain unchanged... 10% bonus points if Minister Park Young-sun runs
In Busan, the 1st and 2nd primary elections will be held

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to select candidates for the April by-elections and re-elections through a system of '50% party members' votes and 50% general public opinion polls.'

Kang Seon-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's by-election planning team, said in a briefing immediately after the planning team meeting on the 7th, "We will maintain the broad framework of 50% party members and 50% general voters," adding, "We intend to delegate the detailed rules for citizen participation and engagement to the election planning teams of each city."

Busan is expected to hold the primary in two rounds. Kang said, "While maintaining the broad framework of 50% and 50%, for example, Busan discussed the idea of dividing the primary into first and second rounds." He continued, "For instance, in the first round, a certain number of party members and a certain number of general citizens will vote, and the results will be immediately disclosed. Then, after some time, the second round will be held, with the details left to each city to decide differently."

Regarding the female bonus points, he replied, "As stipulated in the existing party constitution and regulations." According to the Democratic Party's constitution and regulations, female candidates who are current or former members of the National Assembly or heads of local governments receive a 10% bonus on the votes they earn in the party primary. Female candidates from the general public receive a 25% bonus, and other political citizens can receive up to a 20% bonus. Accordingly, if Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups, runs, she will receive a 10% female bonus. Regarding the third candidate for Seoul mayor, he said, "There has been no discussion."

Regarding the timing when candidates will be finalized after the primary, he said, "It seems that the candidate for Seoul will be decided after Seol (Lunar New Year), and Busan's candidate will be decided a little later, around March." The contents approved by the planning team on this day are scheduled to be reported and finalized at the Supreme Council meeting on the 8th.

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