DPK faces growing defection amid widened factional rift over election nominations
The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during the DPK Supreme Council, Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 28. Yonhap
A growing number of lawmakers are leaving the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) amid an escalating dispute over what they perceive as unfair candidate nominations for the April 10 parliamentary elections.
As of Wednesday, just 40 days before the vote, four DPK incumbent lawmakers, largely considered non-mainstream members, have exited the party, citing what they describe as a "massacre" of legislators not aligned with party leader Lee Jae-myung.
The factional rift reached its pinnacle when the party's nomination committee on Tuesday decided not to nominate Im Jong-seok, a former chief of staff for President Moon Jae-in, as the DPK candidate for Seoul's Jung-Seongdong district, largely regarded as his home turf.
"I respectfully and earnestly request the party leadership (to reconsider the decision)," Im said during a press conference at the National Assembly on Wednesday, referring to a meeting between party leader Lee and Moon last month, where unity was reportedly a major concern.
Instead, the committee has nominated Jeon Hyun-heui, a former chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, for the district.
Im further emphasized the importance of unity to secure victory in the upcoming April vote, indicating that he would announce his future plans after receiving a response from the party leadership.
Former Chief Presidential Secretary Im Jong-seok of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea holds a news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Feb. 28. Yonhap
In addition to Reps. Park Young-soon, Kim Young-joo and Lee Su-jin, who had previously left the party, Rep. Sul Hoon, a four-term member, also announced his departure Wednesday.
"The Democratic Party of Korea has transformed into a totalitarian party dominated by Lee Jae-myung, rather than being a public party," Sul said during a press conference at the National Assembly.
They argue that several non-Lee faction lawmakers were ranked among the bottom 10 percent or 20 percent in terms of legislative activity, resulting in demerit points when competing with other contenders in party primaries.
They further contend that such skewed rules are crafted to exclude them from candidate nominations, raising suspicions about the belated inclusion of a local pollster.
Sul, who had disclosed that he was placed in the bottom 10 percent, expressed doubts about his chances of success in the primaries, adding that he would consider whether to join the new party led by Lee Nak-yon, a former prime minister who had previously defected from the DPK.
Meanwhile, DPK Chairman Lee stated that it is the lawmakers' freedom to decide whether to leave the party or not, saying the defected lawmaker has given up during the race.
"It is freedom (for them) to give up in the middle saying that the rules are unfair and winning in the competition is difficult, but it is not right to speak as if there is a problem with the operation of the game," Lee told reporters after a meeting with voters in Seoul.
The committee previously announced that it has yet to determine which constituency to nominate Im for, despite earlier rumors suggesting Seoul's Songpa Ward, a traditional conservative stronghold where his chances of victory are slim.
The decision followed Im Hyug-baeg, the committee's chief, arguing that party members who had served under the Moon government should bear some responsibility for the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Other DPK lawmakers, who were either denied nominations or included in the list of underperformers, have also heightened criticism of the party leadership, with Rep. Noh Woong-rae launching a hunger strike. (Yonhap)