The Democratic Party of Korea has decided that the party headquarters will make strategic nominations for candidates in this year's parliamentary by-elections and reruns.
Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party secretary-general, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the 8th after a meeting of the local election task force, saying, "In the end, by-elections have been set in four places," and added, "For by-elections projected to reach as many as 10 places, strategic nominations will be the principle."
On this day alone, two Democratic Party lawmakers received rulings voiding their election. As the scope of the by-elections grew larger than expected, the move is seen as a party-level response.
Rep. Lee Byung-jin was indicted on charges of underreporting assets in the last general election and had a ruling voiding the election confirmed by the Supreme Court. Rep. Shin Young-dae also lost his seat after his campaign office manager received a prison sentence on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. In addition, by-elections will be held in Incheon Gyeyang B, President Lee Jae-myung's constituency, and in Asan B, South Chungcheong Province, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik's constituency.
Beyond the four places, there are still Democratic Party lawmakers on trial on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act. If additional rulings voiding elections are handed down, the number of by-election districts will increase. There is also a possibility that incumbent lawmakers will run in the local elections.
The by-elections will be held alongside the local elections in June.
Regarding the local elections, the Democratic Party also decided to ban city and provincial party chairpersons from taking part in candidate nomination bodies. The move appears to reflect concerns over previously raised allegations that Reps. Kim Byung-kee and Kang Sun-woo received nomination-related contributions.
Secretary-General Cho said, "We prohibited participation by city and provincial party chairpersons," and added, "We restricted participation by district party heads in nomination management bodies, except for essential personnel."
He went on, "When meetings of the nomination management body are held, we required the process to be disclosed through public briefings," adding, "We will also establish rules on how to preserve and manage nomination-related materials, tips, and anonymous letters."