Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the conservative camp, criticized the People Power Party's candidate selection method on the 11th as "a public fraud." He stated he would organize his thoughts over the weekend and announce his decision on whether to run.
On this day, former lawmaker Yoo held a press conference at the People Power Party's Daegu City Party and stated, "The People Power Party will conduct the presidential candidate selection (the first primary) entirely through public opinion polls at 100%, and will apply the reverse selection prevention clause to all stages of the primary process."
The reverse selection prevention clause refers to a method of conducting opinion polls that allows support from People Power Party supporters or undecided voters while excluding supporters of other parties such as the Democratic Party.
With this method being introduced in the upcoming primary, it appears candidates supported by undecided voters and supporters will have an advantage. On the other hand, potential candidates showing an advantage among the entire population will find themselves in a less favorable situation.
Former lawmaker Yoo pointed out, "The introduction of the reverse selection prevention clause means that the opinion polls will only be conducted among People Power Party supporters and undecided voters, and it is not a public opinion poll targeting the entire population."
He continued, "Considering that there is a high tendency for undecided voters not to respond well to polls, it ultimately means that they intend to conduct the primary only targeting People Power Party supporters," and asserted, "This is a rule of a primary that insults the public, and it amounts to deceiving the public."
He remarked, "The presidential election is about us making our best efforts to gain the hearts and votes of all citizens," adding, "There are citizens who support the Democratic Party but do not support candidate Lee Jae-myung or dislike Lee Jae-myung even if they are from another party. We need to win over the hearts of these citizens in the main election, but reverse selection prevention is an extremely serious problem as it completely excludes them from the outset."
Aiming at the leadership of the People Power Party and the presidential primary election management committee, he stated, "This presidential election is held after two consecutive impeachments of conservative presidents, and we need to open the gates wider to enter among the people to select the candidate that the public truly wants. It seems to me that producing a candidate desired only by party members and their supporters would effectively deliver power to Lee Jae-myung."
Former lawmaker Yoo said, "As a president has been impeached, the more influence former president Yoon has, the higher the chance of defeat will be for candidates close to Yoon," adding, "It is simply a common-sense view held by a majority of the public, and for those who are well aware of this to behave in such a manner is seen as the actual misconduct."
He added, "The party leadership that has taken presidential defeat as a foregone conclusion seems to be only thinking about maintaining their small vested interests within the party. I cannot help but feel extremely angry," and stated, "I will organize my thoughts over the weekend and inform the public about whether I will run."
Lee Yang-soo, Secretary General of the People Power Party, noted, "The reverse selection prevention clause is in the party rules, and we discussed changing it but did not have the time to do so physically," adding, "Conducting the first primary entirely through public opinion polls is strong evidence of our serious regard for public sentiment. I hope the former lawmaker will muster the courage to participate in the primary."
Earlier, the People Power Party finalized the rules for the early presidential primary the previous day. In particular, by deciding to apply the reverse selection prevention clause in all stages of the primary process, it appears that candidates with higher support rates among party members will hold advantageous positions. Former lawmaker Yoo was branded a traitor by People Power Party supporters during the impeachment process of former President Park Geun-hye.