Democratic Party's 'Tough District Theory' Duality: "Giving Up Privileges" vs "Means to Organize Dissenters"

Kim Du-gwan "We Must Not Fall Behind in Innovation Competition"
Jo Eung-cheon "High-Ranking Party Members May Also Be Included"
Ha Tae-gyeong "Concerned That It May Be Used as a Pretext to Oust Multiple-Term Members of the Emergency Faction"

Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker who served three terms representing Haeundae in Busan, has declared his candidacy for Seoul in next year's general election, a traditional stronghold of the opposition, sparking evaluations that an 'innovation competition' between the two major parties has begun. Within the Democratic Party, there is also talk of 'running in difficult constituencies' for senior lawmakers, but members of the party's non-Myeong faction have expressed concerns that this 'difficult constituency candidacy theory' could be used as a means to purge the non-Myeong faction.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan said on the 10th on YTN's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' "The public will see Ha's candidacy in Seoul as innovation," adding, "Since the public holds a negative view of the Democratic Party's senior lawmakers' self-preservation, we must also relinquish vested interests and not fall behind in the innovation competition," urging change within the party.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 7th, Ha held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "I will leave my hometown Haeundae and challenge myself in Seoul in next year's general election." He expressed his intention to run in a difficult constituency, leaving behind the three-term Busan Haeundae-gap district. Kim's analysis is that Ha's move will be perceived by the public as 'change' and 'innovation.'

He said, "From the public's perspective, this is likely to be seen as significant change and political sacrifice," and added, "This is my personal opinion, but lawmakers with three or more terms should dedicate themselves to the party by moving to difficult constituencies in Chungcheong or Yeongnam regions if necessary."

The so-called 'difficult constituency candidacy theory,' which suggests that senior lawmakers with three or more terms should not run in their existing districts but instead run in constituencies where the party's support is weak, is an idea frequently mentioned during elections as part of the innovation competition between the two major parties. This is why the Democratic Party is also discussing senior lawmakers running in difficult constituencies in response to Ha's declaration. However, amid ongoing calls within the Democratic Party's pro-Myeong faction to expel the non-Myeong faction, there are concerns that the difficult constituency candidacy theory could be misused as a 'means to purge the non-Myeong faction.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Non-Myeong faction lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon of the Democratic Party said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "That (declaration of not running) could include not only senior lawmakers but also high-ranking party members." The 'high-ranking party members' refers to those labeled as non-Myeong faction by the Democratic Party's hardline supporters.

The Democratic Party's hardline supporters, known as 'Gaeddal,' call those who differ from the pro-Myeong faction 'subak' (watermelons, meaning people who are different inside and out) and are conducting 'party loyalty investigations' on them. Five lawmakers?Kang Byung-won, Kim Jong-min, Yoon Young-chan, Choi Jong-yoon, and Hong Young-pyo?are classified as the highest level 'Party Loyalty 5' individuals.

In response to the host's question whether the difficult constituency candidacy theory could be used as a means to purge non-Myeong faction lawmakers, he said, "It is quite possible. Whether it is the senior lawmakers' difficult constituency theory or the watermelon expulsion theory, removing incumbents creates room (space), doesn't it?"

Ha, who declared his candidacy in a difficult constituency, also expressed concern on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' saying, "The Democratic Party's innovation is somewhat different from our party's innovation. Since the pro-Myeong faction currently holds power, it could be considered innovation if they relinquish a lot," adding, "I am a bit cautious because I worry that my running in Seoul might be used as a pretext to purge non-Myeong senior lawmakers."

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