People Power Party's 'Reverse Selection Conflict' Deepens, Presidential Candidates Clash

Yoon Seok-yeol, Choi Jae-hyung, Hwang Kyo-ahn 'Support'
Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, Ha Tae-kyung, etc. 'Oppose'

Jeong Hong-won, the election management committee chairman for the People Power Party's presidential primary, is speaking at the election committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 1st.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Conflicts among the People Power Party's presidential candidates over the primary election rules are intensifying. There is a sharp clash between those who argue that a reverse selection prevention clause should be applied during the primary voting process and those who oppose its application.

At a meeting held on the 1st by the party's Election Commission, where representatives from each campaign were called to express their positions on the primary rules, clear differences emerged among the candidates regarding whether to apply the reverse selection prevention clause.

Among the 12 candidates attending the Election Commission meeting that day, three representatives from former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, and former United Future Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn emphasized the necessity of the reverse selection prevention clause.

Rep. Jang Je-won, representing former Prosecutor General Yoon, told reporters, "In polls, candidates from the People Power Party who record double-digit support in intra-party contests often drop to single digits in multi-candidate races combined with Democratic Party candidates," stressing the need for the reverse selection prevention clause.

He added, "Allowing the preferences of those who do not wish for a regime change to influence the selection process of the People Power Party's presidential candidate fails to honor the aspirations of our supporters who desire regime change."

Rep. Park Dae-chul, representing former Chairman Choi, told reporters, "Preventing reverse selection is the way to enhance competitiveness in the general election and achieve regime change," expressing concern that "some poll figures have reached a level where one might even suspect manipulation of the primary."

He criticized, "Party leader Lee Jun-seok previously stated that the Primary Preparation Committee has no authority to set the primary rules. The discussion on the primary rules is starting at the Election Commission stage, but this has been misrepresented as if the Election Commission is overturning the Primary Preparation Committee's decision."

On the other hand, eight representatives, including Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, Rep. Park Jin, Rep. Ha Tae-kyung, former Reps. Yoo Seung-min, Ahn Sang-soo, Jang Sung-min, Jang Ki-pyo (Chairman of the Gyeongnam Gimhae-eul Party Committee), and former Army General Park Chan-joo, opposed the reverse selection prevention clause.

Former Rep. Oh Shin-hwan, representing former Rep. Yoo, told reporters, "The reverse selection prevention clause is ineffective," and warned, "If the Supreme Council overturns the Primary Preparation Committee's plan as easily as flipping a hand, the primary will inevitably collapse, and the party will head toward disaster."

He emphasized, "It is nonsense to be embroiled in such controversy when we should be moving toward a more open primary to broaden our appeal. Our party has never included a reverse selection prevention clause in any past presidential primaries."

Meanwhile, former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong did not send a representative, stating he would abide by the Election Commission's decision.

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