In a capture from TV Chosun’s broadcast screen, it is reported that the Democratic Party of Korea plans to minimize the involvement of incumbent lawmakers in the candidate recommendation committees for the June 3 local elections.
On the 28th, during a private executive meeting, the Democratic Party decided to form the candidate recommendation committees with a focus on external figures, minimizing participation from incumbent lawmakers and regional chairpersons.
However, in areas with a large number of regional committees, such as the Gyeonggi-do Party, some incumbent lawmakers will be included in the committees.
Chief Spokesperson Park Soo-hyun acknowledged past practices where incumbent lawmakers and regional chairpersons comprised more than half of the committees, with external figures only included at a formal level.
He explained, “Although there have been concerns recently raised by the public regarding the Democratic Party, separately, this is an effort to improve the system for transparent, fair, and objective nominations.”
Meanwhile, Kang Sun-woo, a former Democratic Party member, is under police investigation on suspicion of receiving 100 million KRW from Kim Kyung, a Seoul city councilor, during the 2020 local elections.
Councilor Kim reportedly received a sole nomination despite being a multiple property owner, a reason for disqualification from candidacy at the time.
The executive committee also approved the ‘Candidate Recommendation Operational Rules’ on this day, mandating the preservation of evaluation materials related to committee meetings for four years.