Kim Nam-guk: "Kim Dong-yeon's Candidacy Was Part of the Party-to-Party Integration Agreement... Difficult to Apply to Park Ji-hyun"

Kim Nam-guk: "Discussion of Park Ji-hyun's Candidacy Qualification at the Party Affairs Committee Itself Is Inappropriate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 4th, Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that it is "inappropriate to even discuss" the controversy over former emergency committee chair Park Ji-hyun's eligibility to run for party leader. Regarding the mention of using the 'party affairs committee proviso clause' by citing the case of Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, he said, "It was done during the merger process between New Wave and the party, so it is not an appropriate analogy."

On the same day, appearing on BBS Buddhist Broadcasting's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' Rep. Kim said, "This is a significant exception to the principle, but the rules related to various rights and obligations in the party constitution and regulations are based on the premise that this principle must be fairly upheld," adding, "If the rules are changed and exceptions are made, they may become meaningless."

The current Democratic Party regulations grant party officials and public office candidacy rights to 'registered party members.' The qualification for registered party membership requires paying party dues for six months. Former Chair Park was recruited to the Democratic Party on January 27, during the presidential election, as the head of the Digital Sexual Crime Eradication Special Committee of the election campaign committee. She began paying party dues from February, so she will not meet the registered party member requirement by the candidate registration deadline on the 17th. However, Article 6 of the party constitution includes a proviso clause stating that "it can be otherwise determined by resolution of the party affairs committee."

In response, former Chair Park posted on Facebook, "It should be handled according to the proviso clause in the party regulations that states 'it can be otherwise determined by resolution of the party affairs committee.'" She also said, "In fact, according to this regulation, candidate Kim Dong-yeon also participated in the Gyeonggi governor primary after going through resolutions by the emergency committee and the party affairs committee during the local elections."

However, Rep. Kim drew a line regarding the precedent of Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon mentioned by former Chair Park, saying, "It is not appropriate to apply that case here." He explained, "In Kim's case, it was not an exception granted, but rather a matter agreed upon in the context of the merger between New Wave and the party," adding, "Since he fully enjoyed the rights as a party member from New Wave, he was granted those rights in the merged Democratic Party as well."

He also warned that recognizing candidacy rights could lead to accusations of unfairness. He said, "Young people in their 20s and 30s are sensitive to unfairness. They are asking for exceptions that do not align with common sense, which amounts to special treatment," and added, "There is no significant reason to justify such special treatment, so it should not be allowed."

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