Active Lawmaker Cutoff Backlash... Han Dong-hoon Says "No Reassignment or Reinstatement"

Yoo Kyung-jun, Hong Seok-jun, Lee Chae-ik Respond with Strong Opposition
Han: "Nomination with Principles and Standards through System Nomination"

As the nomination results in the stronghold of the People Power Party were announced, incumbent lawmakers who were cut off (excluded from the primary) raised objections and protested. The People Power Party emphasized that the nominations were the result of a system-based process and took a strong stance, stating that they would not accept the reassignment of protesting incumbents to other constituencies or their re-entry into the party.

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 6th, People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Kyung-jun filed an objection with the party’s nomination management committee, demanding an explanation regarding the strategic nomination of former Samsung Electronics president Ko Dong-jin in his constituency, Gangnam-gu B, Seoul. Hong Seok-jun, who was cut off after Yoo Young-ha, a close aide to former President Park Geun-hye, received a single-candidate nomination in Dalseo-gu Gap, Daegu, also expressed concern, saying, "The decision to nominate Yoo as the sole candidate is a major blot that could cause the public to lose trust and become a negative factor in the 22nd general election," and added, "Those who say this is part of the system nomination are completely lying."

Senior lawmakers who were cut off also actively protested. Three-term lawmaker Lee Chae-ik announced his intention to run as an independent after leaving the party when his constituency, Nam-gu Gap, Ulsan, was designated as a public nomination area and he was cut off. Through Facebook, Lee stated, "The People Power Party has abandoned me. I will never be discouraged," and "Even if I leave temporarily, I will return victorious."

The People Power Party rebutted that the nominations were made according to the system. When Yoo requested an explanation, the party immediately released public opinion poll figures in this context. The party stated, "The first-place candidate received 49.6%, and the second-place candidate 41.3%, which does not meet the criteria for a single-candidate nomination," and emphasized once again that "the nomination review was conducted with principles and standards according to the system nomination."

Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, also met with reporters at the central party office in Yeouido on the morning of the 7th and said, "Objectively speaking, this is a system nomination, and there do not appear to be any meaningful objections," adding, "Such comments arise because there needs to be some balance with the Democratic Party. The nomination process is qualitatively different from that of the Democratic Party." Regarding questions about whether this nomination was designed to favor the pro-Yoon faction, he responded, "I don’t know who you mean by pro-Yoon or who you mean by cut-off," and countered, "Are you saying that the nomination was made based on a specific faction?"

It appears that protesting incumbents will not be embraced. Chairman Han said, "There is no need to reassign those who question and deny the system itself," and added, "I believe the party should be operated inclusively, but inclusion presupposes a minimum level of discipline." Regarding Lee’s independent candidacy, he explained, "We can only win if we go as one team, and it is regrettable," and "If someone leaves in opposition to the party’s position and then thinks about rejoining, that will never be allowed."

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