People Power Party Unable to Conclude 'Reverse Selection Clause'... "Will Not Extend Beyond Weekend"

Jeong Hong-won, Chairman of the People Power Party Election Commission, is attending the meeting to gather opinions on the primary election rate held at the National Assembly on the 1st, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] The People Power Party's Election Management Committee is still deliberating whether to apply the 'reverse choice prevention clause' in the presidential primary and has yet to reach a conclusion as of the 3rd. However, the committee members plan to meet again this weekend to make a decision.

On the afternoon of the same day, Jeong Hong-won, chairman of the People Power Party's Election Management Committee, met with reporters after the committee meeting and said regarding the reverse choice prevention clause, "After hearing various opinions, the views are evenly split," adding, "We will reach a conclusion the next time we meet."

The committee held a meeting from the morning to discuss whether to include the reverse choice prevention clause. On the 1st, the committee gathered pros and cons from representatives of presidential candidates, and the day before, they invited polling experts to listen to their analyses, showing a continuous focus on the reverse choice prevention clause.

Kim Yeon-joo, spokesperson for the Election Management Committee, explained, "There was active opinion sharing among the members today, and all members spoke sufficiently. Due to other decisions to be made, there was not enough time, and the discussion was intense, so we decided to continue at the next meeting if possible," adding, "(The next meeting) will not go beyond the weekend." The additional committee meeting is expected to be held after the 'Primary Candidates Meeting' scheduled for the 5th.

The final decision is expected to heavily depend on the members' opinions. Chairman Jeong said, "We need to hear the members' opinions for the final decision, but if a vote is proposed, we will vote, and if there is consensus, we may not vote," adding, "It will depend on the situation at that time."

There are concerns that whichever compromise the committee proposes, one side will strongly oppose it, potentially causing cracks in the 'One Team' principle. Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung advocate for including the reverse choice prevention clause, while Representative Hong Joon-pyo and former Representative Yoo Seung-min strongly oppose it. Some camps have even taken the extreme step of threatening a 'primary boycott.'

Meanwhile, the committee confirmed 12 candidates for the first cut-off primary, including Representative Park Jin, former Army General Park Chan-joo, former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo, former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, former Representative Yoo Seung-min, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, Jang Ki-pyo, chairman of the Gimhae-si Eul Party Committee, former Representative Jang Sung-min, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, Representative Ha Tae-kyung, Representative Hong Joon-pyo, and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (in alphabetical order).

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