Next Year's Local Elections in Jeonbuk Region 'Gunfire Heard'

Democratic Party Jeonbuk Provincial Party Begins Evaluation of Elected Officials... Briefing Sessions on Mayors and Local Councilors Scheduled This Month

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] The Democratic Party of Korea has begun the long journey toward next year’s local elections by starting evaluations of elected public officials.

According to the Democratic Party’s Jeonbuk Provincial Party on the 14th, an explanatory meeting on the evaluation of elected public officials was held from 1:30 p.m. at the Jeonju City Council for city council members affiliated with the party.

Previously, on the day before, explanatory meetings for basic council members of Namwon City, Imsil County, Sunchang County, Wanju County, Jinan County, Muju County, and Jangsu County were held respectively at the small auditorium of Namwon Chunhyang Culture and Arts Center and the conference room of Jinan San Yakcho Town.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Party plans to hold explanatory meetings for metropolitan council members on the 15th at the second-floor meeting room of the Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly, and for city council members on the 18th at the Iksan City Council meeting room.

Additionally, meetings will be held on the 20th in Gimje City, Buan County, Jeongeup City, and Gochang County, and on the 22nd in Gunsan City.

The explanatory meeting for governors, mayors, and county heads, which draws particular interest, is scheduled for the 19th.

It is known that explanatory meetings for basic council members are conducted by each regional committee, while those for governors, mayors, county heads, and metropolitan council members are conducted by the provincial party.

The Democratic Party’s evaluation of affiliated elected public officials focuses on four evaluation criteria: morality, consistency and implementation of pledges, legislative activities, and regional activities.

Morality includes personal ethics and legislative ethics; legislative activities cover legislative and fiscal achievements, attendance and questioning at administrative audits, multi-faceted evaluations, and awards; regional activities include regional development, residents’ quality of life, and contributions to party affairs.

The data submission period covers from the second half of 2018 to October 2021.

Democratic Party-affiliated heads of organizations and local council members intending to run in next year’s local elections must submit the relevant data and supporting documents between November 10 and 16.

From November 17 to 19, data verification and supplementation will take place.

Once data submission is complete, the Democratic Party is expected to conduct evaluation reviews for 20 days from November 20 to December 9. Presentations (PT) will be included for metropolitan heads.

As the Democratic Party intensifies evaluations of elected public officials, fierce last-minute efforts by officials to avoid being in the bottom 20% are anticipated.

Moreover, since most local councils convened special sessions in October, questions regarding provincial, city, and county administration, as well as proposals for ordinances and recommendations by Democratic Party-affiliated local council members, are expected to pour out like a flood with evaluations in mind.

Furthermore, given the political landscape in Jeonbuk, the evaluation results of elected public officials significantly influence the “primary election, which is almost like the main election,” leading analysts to conclude that the silent war toward next year’s local elections has already begun this month.

Meanwhile, Article 100, Paragraph 2 of the Democratic Party’s party constitution stipulates that those in the bottom 20% in evaluations by the evaluation committees at all levels will have 20% of their votes deducted when participating in candidate primaries.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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