DPK leadership slammed for influencing Assembly speaker election

A notice at the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's office at the National Assembly shows candidates for the party's primary for the 22nd Assembly speakership, Tuesday. The red marks indicate candidates Jung Sung-ho and Cho Jeong-sik have dropped out of the running. Yonhap

The election for the speaker of the first half of the upcoming 22nd National Assembly has triggered controversy due to a personal endorsement by main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung of a particular candidate, which is expected to have a significant influence on the race.

Critics argue that it is inappropriate for the speaker, who is expected to maintain neutrality between the ruling and opposition parties, to be influenced by an individual like Lee, and for the DPK to systematically eliminate other candidates.

On Thursday, the DPK will hold its primary for the speakership of the 22nd Assembly that will start on May 30. Given that the Assembly traditionally elects a candidate nominated by the largest party as the speaker, this primary is considered to be the de facto final election for the position.

Initially, four hopefuls fielded their bids for the speakership — former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae who will enter her sixth term as a lawmaker, and Reps. Woo Won-shik, Cho Jeong-sik and Jung Sung-ho, who will start their fifth, sixth and fifth term, each. But it became a two-way race between Choo and Woo after the other two withdrew their bids.

As Cho and Jung are both considered to be loyalists to the DPK leader, their withdrawal was widely assumed to reflect the party's intention to support Choo for the speakership.

Rep. Cho openly declared his support for Choo, who expressed her gratitude on Facebook, Sunday, by writing, “Cho declared his support for me for the great cause of reforming the Assembly and changing (the country’s) leadership centering on Chairman Lee.”

Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, right, walks past President Yoon Suk Yeol during a ceremony celebrating Buddha's birthday at Jogye Temple in Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

On Tuesday, a group of DPK members held a press conference at the Assembly and revealed signatures of more than 20,000 party members supporting Choo as the speaker.

On the other hand, Rep. Woo is facing criticism from apparent supporters of Choo, who left on his Facebook, critical messages such as, "Please consider the prevailing public sentiment and let Choo take on the role."

Choo said in a radio interview with broadcaster BBS, Monday, “There was no coercion or trimming process” during the primary and added, “the current situation happened naturally.”

However, she also implied that the DPK chairman wants her to be the Assembly speaker.

“The party’s intention is equivalent to Chairman Lee’s intention, and Chairman Lee’s intention is the intention of the people,” she said.

Choo’s strong position in the race is triggering concerns over the DPK leader's excessive influence over the upcoming Assembly.

DPK Rep. Woo Sang-ho said in an interview with broadcaster CBS, Monday, “It seems inappropriate for the party chairman to determine the Assembly speaker, which is the second highest in the country’s parliamentary hierarchy.”

“If the candidates dropped their bids based on their own decisions, there will be no problem at all. However, there are media reports that someone intervened or someone urged them to withdraw, and I think this is very inappropriate,” Woo added.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) also denounced the primary, saying, “productive criticism and competition have disappeared.”

“Internal competition and criticism have disappeared within the DPK, with the party only presenting figures that cater to the tastes of its hardcore supporters by stressing the intention of the chairman,” the PPP said in a commentary. “The party is now completely devoid of any semblance of democracy.”