The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Netflix apologizes for filming 'Single's Inferno 3' in marine sanctuary

  • 3

    In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd

  • 5

    Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

  • 7

    Hamburger franchises having trouble in M&A market

  • 9

    Man gets five-year jail term for K-pop concert ticket fraud

  • 11

    Small business owners urge stricter rules on migrant workers switching jobs

  • 13

    Transgender cyclist looks to spark debate in historic appearance

  • 15

    Suspect in grisly Busan murder sent to prosecutors for further probe

  • 17

    Nexon case reignites controversy over high level of inheritance tax

  • 19

    JYP to expand partnership with US music label

  • 2

    BTS' RM named honorary ambassador of war-remains excavation agency

  • 4

    'BLACKPINK the Game' showcases group's unique charm

  • 6

    EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen in dispute with SM over contract issue

  • 8

    Pyongyang seeks to portray rocket as science effort by admitting failure: experts

  • 10

    Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

  • 12

    Police send girlfriend murder suspect to prosecution

  • 14

    From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June

  • 16

    Pandas at Everland become tourist magnet

  • 18

    S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile interception test for 3rd time

  • 20

    INTERVIEWFrench photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, June 3, 2023 | 07:28
Politics
Ruling party in dilemma over nominating mayoral candidates for by-elections
Posted : 2020-07-14 15:28
Updated : 2020-07-14 18:05
Jung Da-min
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A photo of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is displayed in front of his office in Seoul City Hall, Friday, hours after Park was found dead on a mountain near his residence. His death came after his former secretary filed a complaint with the police accusing him of sexual harassment. The mayor post will remain vacant until by-elections next April. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
A photo of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is displayed in front of his office in Seoul City Hall, Friday, hours after Park was found dead on a mountain near his residence. His death came after his former secretary filed a complaint with the police accusing him of sexual harassment. The mayor post will remain vacant until by-elections next April. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han

By Jung Da-min

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is in a dilemma over whether to nominate candidates for next year's by-elections of lawmakers and heads of local governments, following the death of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and earlier resignation of Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don.

The party's own regulations state the DPK will not field a candidate for a by-election that was triggered by a party member resigning over their own wrongdoing.

Park was Seoul's longest-serving mayor, serving his third consecutive term since he first took office in 2011, and with his rising presence in the DPK he was considered a potential presidential contender. Two days before he was found dead, Park's former secretary filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment but in accordance with a relevant law the police investigation into the case has now been closed as the suspect is deceased.

In late April, DPK member Oh Keo-don stepped down as Busan mayor, admitting to sexual misconduct after a civil servant accused him of sexually assaulting her in his office.

A photo of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is displayed in front of his office in Seoul City Hall, Friday, hours after Park was found dead on a mountain near his residence. His death came after his former secretary filed a complaint with the police accusing him of sexual harassment. The mayor post will remain vacant until by-elections next April. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don bows in a show of apology during a press conference at Busan City Hall, April 23, while announcing his resignation after admitting that he sexually harassed a female employee at the city hall. Yonhap

With the head positions of the country's two largest cities ― Seoul with a population of about 10 million and Busan with about 3.45 million ― now vacant, next year's by-elections, set to be held on April 7, are expected to be a major competition between parties to take political power. The elections are also being held just a year before the next presidential election slated for March 2022, so winning the by-elections is critical for the parties as a barometer of public opinion.

But critics say ― and even some members within the DPK agree ― that the ruling party should not nominate candidates because of an internal rule that bans candidate nomination for a constituency where an elected DPK member resigned over their own "grave wrongdoing." But the rule does not elaborate on what kind of misconduct is defined as "grave."

Seoul City pressed to get to the bottom of scandal
Seoul City pressed to get to the bottom of scandal
2020-07-14 17:24  |  Law & Crime

Political watchers predict that the DPK will nominate candidates for the two major cities despite controversy and criticism, as the symbolic importance of the by-elections is too great.

"The DPK will definitely nominate candidates of the two cities, citing the presumption of innocence," said Hwang Tae-soon, a political commentator. For Oh's case, he resigned following the sexual violence accusation, but has yet to be indicted as the victim did not provide further statements out of fear of secondary damage including personal information disclosure. For Park's case, his death ended the investigation into allegations against him, so it will be difficult to clearly find out exactly what his wrongdoing was and assess how much he was responsible for the vacancy of the mayoral post.

Hwang, however, said the DPK would eventually lose public support by nominating candidates, responding to calls from its enthusiastic supporters while ignoring growing public criticism.

"Next year's by-elections will be a vote judging the performance of the incumbent government and ruling bloc with President Moon Jae-in having only a year left in office," Hwang said. "This year's April 15 general election should have been such a judgment, but the national crisis situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic brought the 'rally-round-the-flag effect' in which the government was able to reduce criticism through crisis management policies like providing relief funds."

Criticism against the DPK is already growing from other political parties and civic society over a series of sexual harassment and assault scandals involving its influential members including Park, Oh and former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung.

After An stepped down from the governor position in March 2018 over a sexual assault complaint against him, the DPK nominated the current governor, Yang Seung-jo, as its candidate for the vacant governor position in the by-election held in June the same year.

Political commentator Yu Chang-seon said the DPK should strictly apply its internal rule of no nomination.

"The DPK should take responsibility as a political party by abiding by its own regulations… There have been a series of sexual harassment scandals involving municipality heads from the DPK, including An, Oh and Park, but the party has never taken any follow-up measures to show people that it was taking its responsibility," Yu said. "But I still see there is little possibility for the DPK to make such a decision of not nominating mayoral candidates. The DPK, however, could lose more while seeking immediate gain as it would lose public support."

The final decision of the DPK over the nomination of mayoral candidates is expected to be made by the party's new leadership that will be elected in late August.

Kim Boo-kyum, one of the party's two members running in the party leadership race, hinted that the DPK could nominate candidates, saying "the by-elections are big so the party's fate will depend on it."

"It has become too big an issue to adhere to the party's internal rule," Kim said in a radio interview, Tuesday. "We'll have to respect party members' opinion on whether to nominate candidates."



Emaildamin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Roland Garros 2023 Roland Garros 2023
2Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft
3Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch
4More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits
5Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service
6POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America
7LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan
8HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm
9Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums
10KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
2How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
3From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June
4[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out' INTERVIEWLee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'
5'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group