Reallocation of Proportional Representative 'Honam' Jo Bae-suk and Party Official Lee Dal-hee

The People Power Party's satellite proportional representation party, People’s Future, adjusted its list of proportional representation candidates for the April 20 general election, repositioning former People Power Jeonbuk Provincial Party Chair Jo Baesuk and former Gyeongbuk Provincial Deputy Governor for Economy Lee Dalhee, a former party official, to the winning positions of 13th and 17th, respectively. This came after the proportional representation candidate list was announced on the 18th and criticisms arose regarding insufficient consideration for Honam politicians and party officials.

Former Chairman Jo Baesuk of the Jeonbuk Provincial Party Committee of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

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The People’s Future Nomination Management Committee re-approved the list of proportional representation candidates for the general election on the same day. Kang Sewon, former Presidential Office Legal Secretary’s Office administrator, who was initially placed in the winning 13th position, was adjusted to 21st. The committee stated, “Candidates who had already expressed their intention to withdraw were excluded from the list, and consideration was given to Honam and party officials. Some rankings were adjusted taking into account representativeness and expertise by occupation.”

Conflicts continued within the ruling party over the proportional representation list. Former Gwangju City Party Chair Joo Kihwan proposed a theory of neglect toward Honam and withdrew from candidacy. Lee Cheolgyu, the People Power Party’s Talent Recruitment Committee Chair, held a press conference that afternoon, claiming, “The (proportional representation nomination) process was not transparently disclosed.” On the 18th, Lee had pointed out on his Facebook that “the party leadership should correct the alienation of comrades who have devoted themselves to the party before the candidate registration deadline.”

However, Lee denied reports that he loudly protested after requesting Emergency Response Committee Chair Han Donghoon to assign a specific person to a winning proportional representation position and that his request was rejected. He said the reports were “distorted.” Regarding former Chair Joo and Min Youngsam, Director of the Social Integration Strategy Institute, Lee said, “I mentioned this during a phone call with Chair Han.” Emphasizing his duty as Talent Recruitment Chair to recommend recruited personnel as proportional representation candidates, he said, “Some say it’s overstepping authority, but if so, then Chair Han and Secretary-General Jang Donghyuk are also overstepping.”

In response, Secretary-General Jang Donghyuk stated in a notice, “I am deeply saddened that incidents undermining party unity have occurred at this critical time, just 20 days before the general election,” adding, “Now is the time to focus solely on winning the election. As Secretary-General, I will not issue rebuttals to every claim for the sake of election victory.”

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