Democrats Growing Concerned Over 'Nomination Turmoil'... 'What About Kim Wooyoung?'

The Democratic Party's 'nomination turmoil' is reaching a critical point. Following the inclusion of many non-Myeong faction members in the list of lower-ranked evaluators, opposition has also begun within the leadership over the participation of pro-Myeong faction Kim Wooyoung, Chairman of the Gangwon Provincial Party Committee, in the Seoul regional primary. There is also speculation that the issue of whether to nominate former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jongseok, considered a 'detonator,' could escalate into a so-called 'explicit (明文) confrontation.'

According to the Democratic Party on the 26th, the leadership held a closed supreme council meeting from 7 p.m. to midnight the previous day. The main topic was Chairman Kim Wooyoung. This was because his participation in the primary for Eunpyeong-gu Eunpyeong District in Seoul was decided while his resignation as Gangwon Provincial Party Chairman had not yet been accepted. He is a figure who served as the standing chairman of the pro-Myeong faction's outside organization, the DeMinju National Innovation Council, and previously caused controversy by declaring his candidacy for Eunpyeong-gu Eunpyeong District, for which he received a 'warning' measure.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is answering reporters' questions in front of the party leader's office at the National Assembly on the 22nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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Incumbent lawmaker Kang Byungwon of Eunpyeong-gu Eunpyeong District pointed out this issue and requested a retrial, but it was dismissed by the party's Public Office Candidate Recommendation Retrial Committee the previous day. According to the party's constitution and regulations, once the retrial request is dismissed by the retrial committee, the supreme council cannot overturn that decision. Nevertheless, it was reported that Floor Leader Hong Ikpyo and Supreme Council Member Go Minjung repeatedly expressed opposition to Chairman Kim's participation in the primary during the closed supreme council meeting. This indicates that dissatisfaction with the 'unfair nomination' has spread to the leadership.

The Democratic Party's centripetal force has been growing since it began notifying incumbent lower-ranked evaluators of disadvantages in the primary on the 19th. This is because the expectation that many non-Myeong faction members would be included has proven true. In particular, while the pro-Myeong faction mostly received uncontested nominations, primaries involving pro-Myeong faction outside figures have been repeatedly decided in non-Myeong faction incumbents' constituencies, further fueling the controversy over 'private recommendation (sacheon).'

However, Representative Lee Jae-myung denied the sacheon controversy, stating after the closed supreme council meeting the previous day that "The Democratic Party is conducting 'systematic nominations' according to special party regulations confirmed a year ago," in response to criticism that the non-Myeong faction is being disadvantaged in the nomination process.

Inside and outside the party, there are voices calling for a 'sacrificial lamb' from the pro-Myeong faction. Secretary-General Jo Jeongsik, who has been responsible for the overall nomination process, is being mentioned. There was speculation that Representative Lee Jae-myung recommended he not run, but the Democratic Party denied this.

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff at the Blue House [Photo by Yonhap News]

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Supreme Council Member Go Minjung said on YTN Radio that morning, "I do not even objectively understand why Representative Kim Youngjoo and others received evaluations in the bottom 20%," and added, "How we overcome this dangerous period will have a significant impact on the general election results." Regarding former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jongseok, a 'core figure of the pro-Moon faction,' she assessed, "At this point, we have reached a situation where we must nominate him."

The decision on former Chief Im's nomination is considered a 'detonator' that will determine the direction of factional conflict. The Strategic Nomination Management Committee recommended he run in Songpa-gu Gap, Seoul, but he remains firm on his intention to run in Jung-gu Seongdong-gu Gap. It is expected that a decision on his nomination policy will be finalized as early as this week. The Democratic Party is also known to be convening a parliamentary meeting soon to discuss again the issues that have fueled the 'nomination turmoil,' including public opinion polls.

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