The Democratic Party cuts off 7 incumbents... Multi-term candidates in the same district also lose points

First Meeting of the Public Office Committee with the Party on the 16th... Announcement of Evaluation Direction
30% Incumbent Performance Audit, 40% Public Office Committee Investigation
20% Contribution, 10% Interview Reflected

The People Power Party announced its plan for the April 10 general election candidate screening this year, deciding to cut off 7 incumbent lawmakers from candidacy and deduct points from 18 others, who will then compete in primaries.

On the 16th, Jeong Young-hwan, the head of the Candidate Management Committee, after concluding the committee's first meeting at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, told reporters, "We will create a detailed replacement index to evaluate incumbent lawmakers," explaining that the evaluation will reflect 30% from party affairs audit results, 40% from the committee's cutoff investigation, 20% from contribution, and 10% from interviews.

Jeong Young-hwan, Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, is delivering an opening remark at the first Nomination Management Committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to this evaluation, the bottom 10% of lawmakers (7 members) across four regions will be cut off. Chairman Jeong explained, "We will divide the four regions into those with competitiveness and those without, and apply cutoff to the bottom 10% in each region." He added, "Those ranked between the bottom 10% and 30% in each region will enter primaries, with a -20% adjustment factor applied to their primary vote rates." This means that 18 lawmakers ranked between the bottom 10% and 30% in each region will compete in primaries but receive point deductions. Additionally, lawmakers who have served three or more terms in the same district will receive an extra penalty of a 15% deduction in their primary vote rates.

The committee's policy is to significantly expand the youth candidate base by reducing screening fees and primary costs. Chairman Jeong stated, "Candidates in their 20s will be exempt from all fees, and those in their 30s will receive a 50% discount." The youth bonus point rate for those aged 34 and under has been decided to be raised up to a maximum of 20%.

Primaries will be conducted with a 20% party member and 80% general public voting ratio in the metropolitan area excluding the Gangnam 3 districts, as well as in the Honam and Chungcheong regions. In the Gangnam 3 districts, Yeongnam region, and Gangwon region?areas classified as strongholds of the ruling party?primaries will be held with a 50% party member and 50% general public voting ratio.

Furthermore, the committee has decided to deem candidates with histories of secondary sexual violence, workplace harassment, school violence, or drug-related crimes as disqualified. For drunk driving, any offense committed after the enactment of the "Yoon Chang-ho Act" on December 18, 2018, results in disqualification after just one offense. For offenses before that date, disqualification applies if there are two offenses within 10 years from the election date or three offenses within 20 years from the election date.

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