The People Power Party will elect its final presidential candidate at its party convention on the 3rd of next month. Candidate registration for the primary will take place over two days, from the 14th to the 15th.

Chairman Hwang Woo-yeo of the People Power Party and the Commissioners are posing for a commemorative photo at the first meeting of the Election Commission held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Nov. 9. /Courtesy of News1

The People Power Party's election management committee held its first meeting on the 9th at the National Assembly and decided on this plan. Ho Joon-seok, a member of the election management committee, explained after the meeting with reporters, “Since May 4th is the deadline for public officials to resign, we plan to select the final candidate through the convention the day before (May 3rd).”

The first-round primary candidates will be announced on May 16th following a document review. The document review plans to filter out disqualified candidates based on criteria such as drug use, deepfake, sex crimes, and socially condemned crimes.

The People Power Party decided to announce the specific primary schedule and method through a decision by the emergency committee on the 10th. It is known that conducting mobile voting within the party is a strong option.

Ho, a member of the election management committee, noted, “There was a discussion to make the primary process new, fresh, and exciting by incorporating opinions from the younger generation to maximize public interest.”

Regarding the deposit, it was decided to adjust it within a maximum limit of 300 million won. Ho, a member of the election management committee, stated, “In the past 1st, 2nd, and 3rd primaries, it was done by each contributing 100 million won within the maximum of 300 million. We decided to adjust it within the limit this time as well.”

In addition, the People Power Party decided to introduce the so-called 'preventive clause for the mackerel' to eliminate disputes of unfairness in public opinion polls. Accordingly, primary candidates must report when conducting public opinion surveys. Ho, a member of the election management committee, stated, “Each candidate's camp must report to the party's planning and coordination department in advance,” and added, “Candidates must pledge to comply with the Political Funds Act and must designate a list management person and submit an account book.”