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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Conservative Commentator Plans 'Disqualification List' for 2028 Election Nominees, Names Party Leader First

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Cho Gab-je, head of Cho Gab-je.com, announced plans to create a list of individuals to be excluded from nominations for the 2028 general election.
  • He identified Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, as the first person on this "disqualification list."
  • The criteria for exclusion include not criticizing "election fraud conspiracy theories" and those who frame "martial law" as "enlightenment," which Cho believes undermine democracy.

Cho Gab-je, the influential conservative commentator and head of Cho Gab-je.com, has declared his intention to compile a list of individuals he deems unfit for nomination in the 2028 general election. He explicitly named Jang Dong-hyuk, the current leader of the People Power Party, as the first person on this "disqualification list."

The party leader, Jang Dong-hyuk, has joined hands with protesters by advocating for a nationwide by-election based on the lie of election fraud. Even when the brakes are not working and he continues to speed towards a crash, will the members of the People Power Party just watch?

— Cho Gab-jeHead of Cho Gab-je.com, criticizing People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's actions.

Cho stated in an interview with SBS Radio that Jang Dong-hyuk's actions, such as advocating for a nationwide by-election based on "election fraud conspiracy theories" and aligning with protesters, demonstrate a reckless disregard for the party's stability. Cho believes that if such actions continue unchecked, the party's members will be left as mere spectators.

To hold individuals politically accountable, Cho suggested that "acting conservative forces" outside the party should exert pressure. He proposed creating a "nomination exclusion list" for the 2028 elections as the most effective method. Cho indicated he might personally lead this initiative.

The best way to hold them accountable is to create a list of those to be excluded from nominations for the 2028 general election.

— Cho Gab-jeExplaining his proposed method for political accountability.

The criteria for inclusion on Cho's list are stringent. First, individuals who do not criticize "election fraud conspiracy theories" will be targeted. Cho argued that these theories are destructive to South Korea's liberal democracy, and those who remain silent in the face of such threats should not be allowed to serve as lawmakers. Second, he included those who misrepresent "martial law" as "enlightenment."

The criteria are: first, people who do not criticize the election fraud conspiracy theory. Isn't the election fraud conspiracy theory destroying the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea? If you see that and remain silent, that person should at least not be a member of the National Assembly.

— Cho Gab-jeOutlining the first criterion for his nomination exclusion list.

Cho estimated that approximately 70 to 80 individuals might meet these criteria. When asked to name the top person on his list, he definitively replied, "That is Jang Dong-hyuk, carved in stone." He further mentioned that he would release the names of the second and third individuals after gathering more information.

That is Jang Dong-hyuk, carved in stone.

— Cho Gab-jeIdentifying the first person on his proposed disqualification list.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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