Democratic Party Addresses Nomination Controversy, Cites “Individual Deviations”
The Democratic Party of Korea has stated that allegations of monetary transactions connected to candidate nominations, specifically involving Representative Kang Sun-woo and former floor leader Kim Byung-kee, are being treated as “individual deviations” rather than systemic failures. Consequently, the party has indicated it has no plans to launch a comprehensive investigation into its entire nomination process.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly, Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae addressed questions concerning the party’s stance on these allegations. These claims center on alleged monetary exchanges during the 2022 local elections and the 2020 general elections.
“The allegations are viewed as deviations by individual personnel rather than systemic issues,” Secretary-General Cho explained. “We are not currently considering investigating the entire nomination process. It does not appear that there were systemic issues across the entire nomination system.”
Key Allegations and Developments:
- Former Floor Leader Kim Byung-kee: Kim was previously accused of accepting and subsequently returning monetary gifts from former Dongjak District Council members prior to the 2020 general elections. Lee Soo-jin, a former representative who was not renominated for the 2024 general elections, recently claimed to have submitted a petition detailing these allegations to Kim Hyun-ji, an aide to then-party leader Representative Lee Jae-myung.
- Representative Kang Sun-woo: Kang departed from the party on the 1st of the month amidst accusations that he received 100 million Korean won from then-candidate Kim Kyung, a Seoul city council member, in the lead-up to the 2022 local elections. He was subsequently expelled from the party.
Regarding the allegations concerning former floor leader Kim during the 2020 general elections, Secretary-General Cho clarified the party’s investigative approach. He stated that while the factual basis of these claims has not yet been confirmed, the party’s Ethics Tribunal is expected to conduct a comprehensive assessment. “If necessary, it can conduct an ex officio investigation, and such procedures are expected to proceed,” he noted.
Cho further emphasized that the Ethics Tribunal would proceed with determining disciplinary actions against former floor leader Kim independently and as swiftly as possible, irrespective of any ongoing police investigations.
In response to calls from the People Power Party for a special counsel to probe the nomination allegations involving Kim Byung-kee and Kang Sun-woo, Secretary-General Cho stated, “We are not considering a special counsel.”
Strengthening the Nomination Framework
Despite classifying the current controversies as individual lapses, the Democratic Party intends to reinforce its systemic nomination framework. A key focus will be on ensuring primary election opportunities, a policy championed by party leader Jung Chung-rae.
“Even if there are no systemic issues, we recognize that such allegations arose due to limitations or loopholes,” Secretary-General Cho acknowledged. “We will uphold the principle of eradicating parachute nominations and ensure minimum primary election opportunities to prevent unjust cutoffs.”
Case Study: City Council Member Kim Kyung’s Nomination
Secretary-General Cho also provided an explanation regarding the nomination process for City Council member Kim Kyung, who is accused of providing monetary gifts to Representative Kang Sun-woo during the 2022 local elections.
“Council member Kim was under close scrutiny for real estate speculation, and all three candidates had been cut off,” Cho explained. “In that situation, unable to make a decision and pressured by time, the conclusion was reached to listen to the opinion of the regional committee chair (Representative Kang) and proceed with a single nomination.”
He added that the party does not believe Kim Kyung’s two competitors possessed moral flaws that would have warranted their exclusion. “At the time, the nomination system heavily respected the opinion of the regional committee chair. This time, nominations will be conducted based on standards and principles.”
The party’s commitment to reinforcing its nomination system underscores an effort to rebuild public trust and ensure a more transparent and equitable selection process for future candidates. This includes a renewed emphasis on clear criteria and established principles to guide nominations, aiming to mitigate the recurrence of similar controversies.
