Kim Jong-in’s overhaul drive fizzles out

Kim Jong-in’s overhaul drive fizzles out. March. 11, 2016 07:15. by 민동용기자, 고성호기자 mindy@donga.com,sungho@donga.com.

The line-up for the April 13 general elections is becoming clearer with the nomination process of the ruling and opposition parties making progress in earnest.

On Thursday, the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea announced the nomination list for 44 constituencies with five incumbent lawmakers being excluded from the nomination. Incumbent policymakers such as Choe Gyu-seong (third-term, Kimje-Buan, North Jeolla Province), Jeong Cheong-rae (second term, Mapo-eul district, Seoul), Kang Dong-won (Namwon-Imsil-Sunchang, North Jeolla Province), Bu Jwa-hyeon (Danwon-eul district, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province), and Yun Hu-deok (first-term, Paju-gap district, Gyeonggi Province) have either been banned from running for the primaries or been excluded from the party nomination as their constituencies are categorized as strategic nomination areas. This marks the first exclusion of incumbents executed by Kim Jong-in, the head of the party's emergency measures committee. Rep. Choe Gyu-seong filed for a retrial, and other lawmakers are also considering a response.

It appears that Jeong Cheong-rae, a hawkish activist and a member of the 86 Group (those who went to college in the 80s and was born in the 60s), lost his chance for nomination owing to his slip of the tongue while "the call for recounting the presidential election in 2012" and "the scandal over a job-soliciting phone call" put a drag on Rep. Kang and Rep. Yun, respectively. As for Rep. Choe and Rep. Bu, it is reported their competitiveness to garner votes during the campaign trail was projected to be weak. On Thursday, the main opposition party selected 23 constituencies as areas for single candidacy recommendation area, four as primary election areas. Outside the assembly, 12 constituencies were selected for single candidacy recommendation, and five for primaries.

　

However, the reaction from within and outside the party is that the nomination result failed to meet the expectations placed on Kim Jong-in, the head of the emergency measures committee who had claimed to wipe out the hegemony of the faction close to former President Roh Moo-hyun and revive the culture of activism for political parties since he took office in January. Among the 23 candidates who got the single candidacy recommendation, a majority were the members of pro-Roh faction and the 86 Group.

The ruling Saenuri Party also announced the second round of nomination screening on Thursday. There was no constituency where an incumbent failed to get a party nomination. Lee Han-gu, the head of nomination management committee, announced four areas for single candidacy recommendation and 31 constituencies for primary elections.

The second nomination list includes incumbents such as Lee Jin-bok (Dongrae, Busan), Hong Mun-pyo (Hongseong-Yesan, South Chungcheong Province), and Kim Do-eup (Bukgangseo-eul district, Busan), who earned the single candidacy recommendation. The three were given a direct ticket to the general elections. Candidate Park Seon-gyu (Yeongdeungpo-gap district, Seoul) has also gained a single candidacy recommendation.

Unlike the first announcement on last Friday, the nomination management committee did not announce the preferred nomination areas reserved for youth and women. The nomination result for Daegu, which is drawing the biggest attention, has not come out yet either. Instead, the committee has chosen 31 constituencies for primary elections, with eight constituencies in Gyeonggi, six in Seoul and South Gyeongsang Province, three in North Gyeongsang Province, two in Busan, Dajeon, and Jeju, and one in North and South Chungcheong provinces.