NEC bans use of expression 'single opposition candidate'
By Rachel Lee
The National Election Commission (NEC) on Saturday banned the use of the expression “unified opposition candidate” when referring to a joint candidate fielded by the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and the Justice Party for the April 13 general election.
The election watchdog said that the expression should not be used for as long as another opposition party, the People’s Party, does not agree with the blanket term.
Last week, the main opposition MPK asked the two minor parties to form an alliance to select single opposition candidates in constituencies in and around Seoul. But People’s Party founder Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo refused the proposal.
“Unless the Minjoo Party of Korea, Justice Party and People’s Party all agree to nominate single candidates for the 20th general election, the expression ‘unified opposition candidate’ cannot be used,” the NEC said in a press release.
On March 29, Rep. An Gwi-og of the People’s Party, who is seeking re-election in Incheon’s Nam District B, filed for an injunction against Rep. Kim Sung-jin of the Justice Party for using banners that read “unified opposition candidate finalized.”
“The National Election Commission accepted the Incheon District Court’s decision to ban the use of such terms,” an NEC official said.
The decision was made because the expression was “highly likely to mislead voters as if Kim is the only candidate running for the constituency,” according to the court.
The MPK believes that without an alliance, it would suffer a major setback in the capital area where multiple opposition candidates confront one conservative runner.
Ahn speculated that the alliance will not lead to a win in the general election because he believed the People’s Party supporters will not vote for the MPK candidates even if the two sides join forces.
The People’s Party issued a warning to its own members that the party will expel anyone who agrees to form an alliance with an MPK candidate without consultation.