[The Editors' Verdict] Key Observations in the People Power Party Primary

Compared to the Democratic Party of Korea, the ruling party People Power Party shows too many gaps in preparing for the presidential primary. Some People Power Party presidential candidates, including Hong Joon-pyo and Yoo Seung-min, even declared a boycott of the primary schedule. It is analyzed that they have thrown close-range threats toward Election Commissioner Jeong Hong-won, who is about to decide on the anti-reverse selection clause.

The People Power Party’s election commission’s predicament of being unable to act decisively on the issue of reverse selection is embarrassing to witness as it exposes the raw state of the maturity of Korean democracy. Reverse selection is a concept and term that has long disappeared from recent trends in party democracy, especially in presidential primaries. The trend in selecting presidential candidates is “stronger primaries, weaker parties.” It must be recognized that as open primaries and open nomination systems are strengthened, “weakened party leadership” is normal.

The modern party politics coordinate is to transform political parties, which were the main actors and centers of representative politics, into a public square for citizen participation. In California, USA, a top-two primary nomination system is implemented, where local residents, regardless of party membership or party support, nominate two candidates regardless of whether they belong to the Democratic or Republican parties, and these two candidates compete in the general election held in November. Despite the universal common sense and level of democracy worldwide having reached this point, it is frustrating to see the People Power Party’s election commission debating the “old” concept of reverse selection.

The real nature of the People Power Party’s reverse selection debate is more political confrontation than a dispute over primary rules. The camp of candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, who actively advocates for the anti-reverse selection clause, may be politically attacking by disparaging the rising support for candidate Hong Joon-pyo as a result of reverse selection. Also, candidate Choi Jae-hyung, who had been actively advocating for anti-reverse selection, suddenly reversed course and insisted on maintaining the original plan prepared by the primary preparation committee, leaving Commissioner Jeong in a tight spot. Rather than considering resignation amid confusion and embarrassment, it is encouraged that he embrace the mission to safeguard the presidential primary of the main opposition party. At the same time, it is emphasized that the election commissioner’s duty is to consider that candidates participating in the primary are both customers and stakeholders, and to seek their consent and coordinate adjustments if unavoidable circumstances arise.

Sangchul Park, Professor at the Graduate School of Political Studies, Kyonggi University

By analogy, just as the rules of various sports such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball are similar worldwide, the presidential primary rules of democratic countries’ parties tend to be similar, so there is no reason to hesitate to take the Democratic Party of Korea’s primary method as a lesson. In the Democratic Party’s case, during the preliminary survey of six candidates for the primary, only Democratic Party supporters and independents were surveyed according to party rules. However, when recruiting the electorate for the final candidate selection, party affiliation was not asked. This is because the presidential candidate who will run in the general election should be a candidate who receives support from public sentiment rather than just party sentiment.

The People Power Party, which is proceeding with a time lag compared to the Democratic Party, is at a stage akin to a fierce ssireum (Korean wrestling) match. How the wrestlers grip the satba (wrestling belt) determines victory or defeat, so the party leadership and election commission of the People Power Party need to be meticulous and sharp in observation and atmosphere management. The young party leader’s analogy that “students cannot study well if they focus too much on the entrance exam system” and his act of pouring cold water on the next presidential candidates shows a lack of understanding or disregard for the intensity and solemnity of politics. It is repeatedly emphasized that the protagonists of the primary are not the hosts or referees but the candidates themselves, who are the parties concerned and stakeholders.

/ Park Sang-chul, Professor, Graduate School of Political Studies, Kyonggi University

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