Minju Excludes Im Jong-seok Despite 'Nomination Turmoil'... Signs of Backlash from Bimyeong Faction

The Democratic Party of Korea is witnessing escalating 'factional conflicts' as former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok is excluded from the party nominations. With internal discord already emerging within the leadership due to Representative Lee Jae-myung's 'private recommendation' controversy, the backlash over the 'nomination turmoil' is expected to intensify.

On the morning of the 27th, Ahn Kyu-baek, Chair of the Democratic Party's Strategic Nomination Management Committee, held a closed meeting at the National Assembly and told reporters, "We have decided to recommend candidate Jeon Hyun-hee for Seoul Jung-gu Seongdong-gu Gap, and to hold a two-person primary between candidates Park Yong-gap and Jeong Hyun-tae for Daejeon Jung-gu."

Ahn Gyu-baek, Chair of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is heading to the National Assembly Members' Office Building meeting room where the Strategic Nomination Committee meeting is being held on the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

Jung-gu Seongdong-gu Gap is the constituency where former Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok ran, and the Democratic Party has been deliberating extensively over whether to nominate him. There are concerns that excluding Im, who is considered a 'pro-Moon core,' amid strong internal backlash against 'unfair nominations,' could push the opposition to the nomination controversy beyond the red line. It has increasingly become evident that a large number of non-factional members were included among the bottom 20% of incumbent evaluations, and dissatisfaction is high as pro-Lee faction members have received uncontested nominations regardless of whether they are inside or outside the National Assembly, fueling complaints about the 'non-faction massacre.'

Former Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Chair Jeon Hyun-hee is also a figure from the Moon Jae-in administration, but after the attack on Representative Lee Jae-myung, she took on the role of Chair of the Party Leader's Political Terror Countermeasures Committee, rising to the forefront of the pro-Lee faction. When asked if there were any objections to Jeon Hyun-hee's strategic nomination, Chair Ahn said, "There were opposing opinions, but the decision was made by majority vote." Regarding the plan to nominate former Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok in another constituency, he said, "There has been no discussion yet."

The Democratic Party intends to ask Im Jong-seok whether he would accept nomination in another constituency, but since he has already declined the offer to run in Seoul Songpa-gu Gap, the likelihood of acceptance appears low.

Former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok (center) is attending the 18th to 19th Chairman Farewell Ceremony and the 20th Chairman Inauguration Ceremony of the Seoul Saemaeul Association held at Seongdong-gu Office in Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

As a result, with many pro-Moon faction figures positioned at the center of the non-Lee faction forces opposing Representative Lee Jae-myung's private recommendation controversy, the 'nomination turmoil' caused by excluding former Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok is expected to intensify further.

Some lawmakers, including Kim Han-jung, Park Yong-jin, and Yoon Young-chan, who were notified of their low evaluations, have expressed willingness to participate in primaries, but those who do not even get the chance to compete may trigger a chain of defections. Already, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Kim Young-joo and Representative Lee Soo-jin have declared their defections, and Representative Seol Hoon, who also revealed he was notified of being in the bottom 10%, hinted at his intention to leave the party the day before.

Inside and outside the party, there are reports that non-Lee faction lawmakers who have not yet been notified about primaries are frequently communicating and considering 'collective action.' The Democratic Party plans to convene a caucus meeting around 2 p.m. today to discuss opinions on electoral district delimitation, but opposition to unfairness in the nomination process is expected to erupt at the meeting as well.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.