Park Ji-hyun, Denied Even Registration as Party Leader Candidate, Says "Cowardly and Again Cowardly"

"The Party Election Commission's Attitude Is an Unfair Door-Slam"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the morning of the 18th, former co-chair of the Democratic Party Emergency Response Committee, Park Ji-hyun, criticized the Central Party Election Commission's refusal to register her candidacy for party leader as "unfair."

On the afternoon of the same day, Park posted on Facebook a message titled "Cowardly and Again Cowardly," expressing this view.

Former Co-Chair of the Democratic Party Emergency Committee Park Ji-hyun is entering the Democratic Party's candidate registration desk for party leader and supreme council member preliminary candidates, set up in the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th, holding the "Party Leader Election (Preliminary) Candidate Registration Documents." On this day, Park's registration documents were rejected. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Park stated, "The refusal to accept my registration is unfair. The Democratic Party showed an attitude of not even wanting to accept the registration. It means no one wants to take responsibility," adding, "I hope the party election commission will properly review the documents I submitted and notify me of the results, whether the documents are rejected or otherwise."

She said, "I will abide by the results," but also pointed out, "The election commission's attitude that my documents cannot be accepted due to my insufficient candidate qualifications is an unfair dismissal at the door."

Park questioned, "The candidate registration hasn't even been accepted yet, so does the election commission claim to have already reviewed my qualifications? On what grounds did the election commission examine party members' personal information in advance?" She demanded, "Please follow the system and order, as it would be enough to review and notify me of the results. Why dismiss me at the door?"

She then addressed the party leadership, mentioning, "Today, candidate Lee Jae-myung also told me, 'I hope you are given a chance to challenge,'" and urged, "Please review my candidacy documents according to the rules set forth in the party regulations, and make a final decision on whether my candidacy can be determined differently by the party affairs committee."

Earlier, the Democratic Party Emergency Response Committee blocked Park's candidacy, citing the requirement of "paying party dues for more than six months as a registered party member" to qualify for the party convention. Nevertheless, Park declared her candidacy on the 15th and submitted her party leader election candidacy registration documents at around 11 a.m. on the last day of registration at the Democratic Party Central Election Commission reception desk in the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

However, the election commission rejected the submission of documents, stating that Park's candidacy did not comply with the "party office election regulations" because she had not been a party member for six months, effectively ending her bid for party leader.

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