Minju on Proportional Representation 'Closed-Door Nomination' Controversy: "Lack of Physical Time"

'Nomination Turmoil' Subsides, Secretive Controversy Over Proportional Representation
Woo Sang-ho "Method Done in Secret... Undermines Fairness"
Kim Sung-hwan "Different from 4 Years Ago... Lack of Physical Time"

The Democratic Party of Korea explained that the controversy over 'closed-door nomination' regarding proportional representation candidates arose because it was difficult to follow the party constitution and regulations due to participation in the proportional representation alliance.

Kim Seong-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party and chair of the Proportional Representation Candidate Recommendation Subcommittee of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee, held a briefing at the National Assembly on the 5th and said, "Internal negotiations related to the selection of proportional representation candidates are underway with the Progressive Party, New Progressive Alliance, and civil society, making it difficult to proceed according to the party constitution and regulations." He added, "Unlike four years ago, there are physical and time constraints that make it difficult to follow the party constitution and regulations procedures now."

Kim Seong-hwan, the chairman of the proportional representation candidate recommendation subcommittee of the Democratic Party of Korea's Strategic Nomination Management Committee, is explaining about candidate recommendations at the National Assembly on the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party entrusted the screening of proportional representation candidates for this general election to the Strategic Nomination Management Committee. However, according to the party constitution and regulations, proportional representation nominations require the separate formation of a Proportional Representation Nomination Management Committee, which then determines the order of candidates through a vote by all party members and a ranking vote by the Central Committee on candidates who applied.

Woo Sang-ho, who served as the chair of the Proportional Representation Nomination Committee during the last general election, criticized this situation, saying, "This is far from innovation, as it follows the old method where a small group decides candidates behind closed doors." He added, "Based on my experience handling nominations several times, I believe the criticism that the transparency and fairness?core principles of 'systematic nomination'?have been partially compromised is valid."

Kim explained, "Four years ago, we proceeded with the intention of nominating candidates independently but decided late to participate in the proportional representation alliance, and nominated candidates selected according to procedures by placing them in lower positions on the alliance list." He added, "After concluding negotiations at the end of last month, we had to recommend candidates by the 10th of this month, so time was insufficient."

Regarding why the Proportional Representation Nomination Committee was not separately formed, he said, "It could have taken an additional week to form a new committee, so the Strategic Nomination Management Committee decided to act on its behalf," adding, "We follow an internal policy to select candidates fairly through document screening and interviews." The 'internal screening' mentioned by Kim involves Kim himself and three external members.

Attendees including Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are taking a commemorative photo at the Democratic United Alliance Central Party Founding Convention held on the 3rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. From the left: Yoon Hee-sook, leader of the Progressive Party; Lee Jae-myung; Yoon Young-duk and Baek Seung-ah, co-leaders of the Democratic United Alliance; Yong Hye-in, standing leader of the New Progressive Alliance.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party is accepting applications for proportional representation candidates by the 6th in fields such as ▲women, welfare, disability, youth ▲foreign affairs and national defense ▲strategic regions (Daegu and Gyeongbuk) ▲economy. Recommendations from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Teachers' Union Federation, as well as party officials' quotas, are excluded.

Meanwhile, the Democratic United Alliance previously decided to allocate 30 proportional representation candidates. The New Progressive Alliance and the Progressive Party will each nominate three candidates, the Coalition Political Citizens' Conference will nominate four candidates, and the Democratic Party will fill the remaining 20 seats. Within the top 20 proportional representation slots, the Democratic Party's share is 10 seats: six for women and four for men. The Democratic Party plans to complete interviews by the 10th and submit the list to the Democratic United Alliance after approval by the Supreme Council on the 11th.

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