The United Future Election Commission Proposes a 3-Week Delay for the Primary to the Supreme Council... Likely to Be Confirmed This Afternoon

4th Wave Primary Postponement Likely
September 26 Postponed by 3 Weeks Under Review
Afternoon Decision Expected

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Chae-eun Koo, Jin-young Jeon] The Democratic Party of Korea is strongly considering postponing the main presidential candidate primary schedule by three weeks from the original date to September 26. If this happens, the runoff vote is likely to take place on October 1.

Party leader Song Young-gil and the leadership held a closed supreme council meeting on the morning of the 19th to discuss this plan after receiving a schedule revision proposal from the party’s Central Election Commission. Initially, the Democratic Party planned to select the final candidate on September 5 (with the runoff vote on September 10).

However, due to difficulties in proceeding with the primary schedule amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission collected opinions from each candidate regarding postponement. The commission compiled the candidates’ views and prepared a plan to delay the existing schedule by about three weeks. Article 88, Clause 2 of the Democratic Party’s bylaws states, “The presidential candidate must be selected at least 180 days before the election day. However, in case of significant reasons, the party’s executive committee may decide otherwise.”

After the supreme council meeting on the morning of the 19th, Democratic Party senior spokesperson Ko Yong-jin told reporters, “Central Election Commission Chairman Lee Sang-min brought a proposal to postpone the primary schedule by three weeks,” adding, “At this point, the minimum delay seems to be three weeks.”

Presidential candidates from the ruling party have expressed that they will “follow the party leadership’s decision” regarding the postponement. In particular, Lee Jae-myung, the Gyeonggi Province governor and the ruling party’s frontrunner, proposed to Chairman Lee Sang-min on the 15th that the schedule be completed before the National Assembly audit. As a current regional governor, Lee must undergo an audit by the heads of agencies under supervision during the audit session. There is concern that the Gyeonggi Province audit could turn into a fierce opposition party scrutiny against Lee, negatively affecting the primary. Therefore, he has requested the deadline be set “before the audit.”

Other candidates, excluding Lee, are expected to use the additional time to narrow the gap in support ratings, intensify verification attacks against other candidates, announce policies and pledges, and seek alliances and coalitions among candidates. Especially, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who gained support through a strong performance in the preliminary primary, is expected to focus on highlighting the “alternative to Lee Jae-myung” narrative. This will emphasize Lee Jae-myung’s various personal risk factors to break his momentum and appeal to the party’s mainstream pro-Moon Jae-in faction, gaining valuable time. Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will also launch an all-out campaign leveraging his morality and expertise. With the extended primary period, he will highlight his strengths of having undergone multiple verifications as a minister, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister, and having no moral flaws such as controversies involving close aides or assets.

With the rapid rise of former leader Lee Nak-yeon, former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who had faltered due to the “underdog effect,” have each announced presidential pledges such as the “Gwangju-Jeonnam Vision” and “Strategy for Sufficient Supply of Good Housing,” respectively, entering a competition of “clarity.”

Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to conduct interviews with preliminary primary candidates on the 20th, finalize the main primary candidates by September 21 before the Chuseok holiday, and select the final candidate by November 9, 120 days before the 20th presidential election (March 9, 2022), according to party bylaws and regulations.

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