Why Did the Minjoo Party's 'Nomination Rules' Spark Backlash from Gaeddal as 'Protecting Established Interests'?

Voices Opposing the Amendment Online
Political Newcomers Also Say "It Must Be Remade"
Analysis Calls It a "Preliminary Contest for Power Struggles"

The Democratic Party of Korea has entered the procedure to establish the 'nomination rules' to be applied in next year's general election, facing criticism both inside and outside the party. The decision to maintain the existing nomination framework called 'system nomination' is pointed out as inevitably favoring incumbent lawmakers. There is also an analysis that among the strong supporters backing the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction (Chinmyeong faction), efforts have begun to check the party lawmakers centered around the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction (Chini faction) and the pro-Moon Jae-in faction (Chinmun faction).

The Democratic Party is conducting a full vote over two days, from the 3rd to the 4th, among party members on the 'Special Party Regulation Draft for the Selection of Candidates for the 22nd National Assembly Election.' However, according to political circles on the 4th, criticism arose among some political newcomers within the party and the strong supporter group called 'Gaeddal (Daughters of Reform)' regarding the draft confirmed by the Democratic Party's general election nomination system task force (TF).

The special party regulation draft announced by the Democratic Party basically follows the framework of the 'system nomination' from the era of former leader Lee Hae-chan. It centers on a public participation primary system reflecting 50% of the public and 50% of party members in the primary election. This is interpreted as minimizing the scope of change amid concerns that the leadership, centered on the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, would abuse nomination rights when the party leadership was formed earlier.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Gae-ho, vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Basic Social Committee, are shaking hands at the 1st plenary meeting of the Basic Social Committee held on the 14th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

However, criticism of the special party regulation draft was raised among some supporters, mainly on online communities. They expressed concerns that single-candidate nominations could be excessively issued, citing the provision that candidates meeting qualification requirements could be selected as single candidates in the primary. It was also pointed out as a problem that incumbent lawmakers would inevitably have an advantage when competing against youth and political newcomers. On the Democratic Party's petition site, the National Response Center, a petition titled 'Ban single-candidate nominations for incumbent lawmakers' was posted on the 25th of last month, and multiple requests were made to increase the proportion of party member votes in the nomination process.

Concerns were also raised among young politicians within the party. On the 27th of last month, a group of 'Democratic Party young politicians and political newcomers hoping for party reform and political reform' held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "The Democratic Party should halt the special party regulation amendment procedure for the vested interests of incumbent lawmakers and remake the special party regulation draft for genuine reform nominations." In particular, regarding the guarantee of opportunities for political newcomers, they criticized, "It is practically very difficult for young political newcomers to lead incumbent lawmakers by more than 10% in opinion polls," and "Incumbent lawmakers, who know this reality better than anyone, are misleadingly presenting this system as if it is designed for youth."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

These demands from the strong supporter groups appear to be aimed at preventing the solidification of the existing structure centered on pro-Lee Nak-yeon (Chini) and pro-Moon Jae-in (Chinmun) lawmakers. There is a call to break the 'incumbent premium' structure and implement a kind of 'shake-up.'

There is also an analysis that this is a preliminary battle of factional conflicts that will flare up ahead of the general election. Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University Graduate School of Policy explained, "It is part of a kind of power struggle within the party. A kind of preliminary round," adding, "In next year's general election, major districts will have primaries, and voices have begun to emerge about who will have the advantage there." Professor Park also diagnosed, "As the election approaches, demands for nomination reform will continue to arise," and "Whether the Democratic Party will innovate to break vested interests is entirely in the hands of Representative Lee Jae-myung."

However, Lee Gae-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the nomination system TF, dismissed criticism from some quarters of the party as "only some opinions," saying, "Are they going to make nominations to suit their own tastes? That is nonsense."

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