Controversy Over Poll Distortion... Democratic Party Jeonbuk Provincial Committee 'Hands Off'

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[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] The Jeonbuk Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea seems to be pushing ahead without presenting any significant measures despite concerns that the current primary election method could be distorted.

On the 20th, the Jeonbuk Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea stated that the primary election is being conducted by reflecting 50% of the voting members who are party rights holders and 50% of the safe number electorate based on the current mobile phone bill.

If this continues, there is no way to exclude side effects where public opinion could be inflated if a specific faction moves the billing address and participates in the survey.

In fact, it has been confirmed that voters from other regions who moved their billing addresses participated in the suitability survey for candidates for the upcoming June 1 local elections, which was conducted by the Democratic Party itself, causing ongoing controversy.

One example is Mr. A, who resides in Jeonju City, Jeonbuk, who moved his mobile phone billing address to Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun on the 30th of last month and received a suitability survey call for the Wanju County Governor local election candidate on the 15th of this month.

As alternatives, there are suggestions to limit voters to those who have kept their billing address within the region for six months before the candidate primary date or to revise the current primary rule of 50% party rights holders and 50% safe numbers, but the response is that these are not clear solutions.

A representative of the Jeonbuk Provincial Party of the Democratic Party said, "Restrictions such as a six-month limit on mobile phone safe number billing addresses are currently difficult due to opinions that there are precedents from the election commission stating such measures are illegal."

He added, "Increasing the proportion of party rights holders is also a policy coming from the central party, so at present, we cannot say much."

Given this situation, it is impossible to rule out the possibility of indiscriminate distortions occurring in the Jeonbuk governor primary election process starting today.

Preliminary candidates have also consistently voiced the need to improve the primary election method.

Preliminary candidates for Wanju County Governor, Lee Don-seung, and Jangsu County Governor, Yang Seong-bin, stated at a press conference on the 14th, "If it is impossible to limit virtual numbers to only mobile phone numbers that have been continuously used in the relevant region for more than six months as a party-guaranteed method, the survey should be conducted only with party rights holders."

Preliminary candidates for Gunsan Mayor, Moon Taek-gyu and Seo Dong-seok, also said at a press conference on the 19th, "The recent allegations of survey manipulation have been confirmed in Gunsan as well," and urged, "Thorough and swift investigations are needed to resolve the suspicions."

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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