DPK leader's election losing public attention

Candidates for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)'s chairman pose before talking to a radio show at CBS' headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Rep. Park Ju-min, Rep. Lee Nak-yon and former Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum. Yonhap

By Do Je-hae

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) plan to hold a nationwide convention to pick its new leader has hit a snag as massive gatherings have been banned due to fear of COVID-19 infection clusters and a major candidate for the leadership, Rep. Lee Nak-yon, has been put under self-quarantine due to coming into close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus.

Concerns over COVID-19 have replaced the focus on visions and policy plans which the chairpersonship candidates are presenting, and the DPK's plan to regain public attention amid a declining support rate is likely to founder.

The ruling party has had to significantly downsize the Aug. 29 convention due to the ongoing pandemic, from the original plan to hold it at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena with 600 members of its central committee attending from across the country, to the party's headquarters in Yeouido with no more than 50 participants attending in line with the government's elevated social distancing rules.

The pandemic has also affected some of the candidates. Rep. Lee Nak-yon, Moon's first prime minister, alarmed the public between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with the possibility of infection after his appearance on a CBS Radio show Tuesday morning. He shared the same microphone used by a reporter who was confirmed to have the coronavirus Tuesday, leading to the temporary closure of the broadcaster's studio.

Lee tested negative for COVID-19, but he was told to self-quarantine at home for two weeks considering the incubation period, meaning he is unable to resume normal campaigning. As his quarantine period will end at noon Aug. 31, he cannot appear in a TV debate with the two other candidates running for the party chairmanship and also will not be able to attend the party convention.

Against this backdrop, Lee's rival Kim Boo-kyum, President Moon's first interior minister, has requested the party's election committee and the party convention preparatory committee to delay the election.

"Candidate Lee has been categorized as a person who came into close contact with a person infected with COVID-19 and has been ordered by the authorities to be quarantined for two weeks," Kim said in a statement. "The most important thing in the party leadership election is the right of party members and the people to be informed. All three candidates who are challenging for the party leadership should be given a chance to promote themselves fairly. As there has been a major setback in the party's leadership election, it should be postponed."

Even if the election is held as scheduled, concerns are rising within the party that the convention and the new leadership will stir little interest among the public and will not be enough to revive support for the ruling party that has been on a downward trend over the past few months.

Lee has also experienced setbacks in his public approval rating as a potential presidential candidate recently as the public is turning increasingly away from the Moon administration over a series of policy failures in real estate and the economy in general.

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