Furious Hong Jun-pyo "The party is running well"... Signs of internal strife in People Power Party's local election nominations

10% Deduction for Running as Incumbent, 15% Deduction for Independent Candidacy History
Hong Jun-pyo Strongly Opposes, "Is the Local Election a Party for General Election Losers?"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party./National Assembly Press Photographers Group [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The People Power Party is showing signs of internal conflict over the nomination rules for the upcoming June 1 local elections. The party leadership introduced a clause deducting 10% if an incumbent lawmaker applies for nomination in the local elections, and 15% if the candidate ran as an independent in elections within the past five years. Hong Joonpyo, who declared his candidacy for Daegu mayor, openly opposed this, exposing conflicts within the party.

Hong was elected as an independent in Daegu Suseong district during the 2020 general election and rejoined the People Power Party last year, thus falling under both clauses. Accordingly, he faces a total deduction of 25%. On the 21st, Hong issued a statement demanding a reconsideration of the nomination rules and strongly protested for the second day, saying, "The party's operation is going strangely."

In a post on Facebook on the 22nd, he questioned, "Before the last presidential election, didn't the party pardon those who left the party during the general election and allow them all to rejoin? After doing that, are we imposing penalties again on those pardoned? Does that align with fairness and common sense?" He continued, "At the time when we should be fully committed to the local elections, are incumbent lawmakers not allowed to run? Are local elections a celebration for general election losers?"

Hong particularly criticized Kim Jaewon, a fellow party Supreme Council member who declared his intention to run for Daegu mayor and belongs to the Supreme Council that decided the penalty policy, calling it an "abuse of power." Targeting Kim, he said, "He demanded and pushed through regulations favorable to himself at the Supreme Council. Such things should not happen in an era of fairness and common sense, nor in a democratic party."

Regarding this, Party Leader Lee Junseok said, "The Nomination Management Committee can discuss it once more," leaving open the possibility of reconsideration. In an interview with MBC Radio, Lee said, "We cannot overturn a decision made by majority vote," but added, "If Nomination Management Committee Chairman Jeong Jinseok requests reconsideration, we are willing to discuss it." When asked whether Kim led the penalty policy, Lee replied, "I cannot confirm that," and said, "There were disagreements, so the decision was made by majority vote."

The conflict between Hong and Kim over the Daegu mayoral nomination is expected to continue for the time being. On the 21st, in a radio interview, when asked if he would face off against Hong in the Daegu mayoral election, Kim replied, "I think that will be the case."

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