People Power Party Maintains Principle of Excluding Candidates Who Have Lost More Than Three Times in the June 1 Local Elections

Opposition Within Party Including Jeong Mi-gyeong, "All Opinions Fully Heard"
"Not Subject to Injunction Because It Is a Political Act"
Nomination Candidates Confirmed from 12th to 14th, Primary Results Announced from 21st to 23rd

Kim Haeng, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Local Election Nomination Management Committee, is giving a briefing on current issues at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 1st. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] The People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee decided on the 5th to maintain the policy of excluding candidates who have lost more than three times in the same region and the same electoral district from nominations, indicating that internal conflicts over nominations are likely to continue. The committee plans to complete the nomination applications for metropolitan government heads by the 6th of this month, finalize primary candidates between the 12th and 14th, and announce the primary results between the 21st and 23rd.

Kim Haeng, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, told reporters immediately after the third meeting on the day that the clause excluding candidates who have lost more than three times would be "maintained as is." He added, "This is not a registration criterion but a 'screening criterion,'" and "Even those subject to this can still submit their nomination applications." On the 1st, the committee announced, "In all electoral districts, candidates who have run more than three times and lost more than three times in the same district will be excluded from nominations," which sparked backlash from some party members who argued there was no consideration for candidates running in difficult districts.

This decision is expected to continue causing internal disputes within the party. At the previous day's Supreme Council meeting, Supreme Council Member Jeong Mi-kyung said, "It is shocking that those who lost more than three times were grouped together as exclusion targets as if they had committed some wrongdoing," adding, "There is no such exclusion target in the party constitution or regulations." She also criticized, "Such a significant decision was made without consulting the Supreme Council."

Four-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun also expressed on Facebook the same day that the regulation was "hard to accept," stating, "It is unfair to exclude candidates from nominations in this local election by holding them responsible for the 2018 election defeat." He pointed out that it is inappropriate to penalize those who ran despite anticipating defeat in the 2018 local elections held shortly after the impeachment crisis.

In response, spokesperson Kim emphasized that the Nomination Management Committee is an independent decision-making body, saying, "We listen carefully to all opinions from district parties, regional parties, city/provincial parties, and the Supreme Council, but that does not mean we can change the screening criteria." He reiterated, "The screening criteria apply equally to everyone, not favoring or disadvantaging any particular individual."

Regarding concerns that this decision could be subject to provisional injunctions, he explained, "We have already reviewed it legally," adding, "Since this is a political act, it cannot be subject to provisional injunctions."

The People Power Party will complete the application process for metropolitan government head nominations on the 6th, begin candidate interviews and screenings from the 8th, and decide primary candidates by region between the 12th and 14th. On the 12th, seven regions including Gwangju, Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam will be targeted; on the 13th, five regions including Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongnam; and on the 14th, five regions including Seoul, Daegu, Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju. Following this, a five-day primary campaign will be held, and the primary results will be announced between the 21st and 23rd.

The primary method will reflect 50% voter group votes and 50% opinion polls for metropolitan and basic local government heads, while for metropolitan and basic council members, 100% party member voter group votes will be applied. Additionally, for metropolitan and basic local government heads, mandatory debates will be held during the campaign period to provide voters with opportunities to assess candidates' capabilities and qualifications.

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