Democratic Party Faces Bribery Allegations in Local Primaries Amid 'Clean Election' Pledge

The Hankyoreh reports on a brewing scandal within South Korea's Democratic Party, which is grappling with a series of bribery and vote-buying allegations during its primary elections for local government leadership positions. This situation is particularly embarrassing for the party, as it comes shortly after a similar 'nomination fee' scandal involving its lawmakers last year and follows a pledge for a 'clean election' under the slogan 'Four Nos' (no corruption, no parachuting, no unqualified candidates, no unfair exclusion).

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We are conducting necessary investigations and will apply the strictest moral standards.

The allegations have cast a shadow over the party's commitment to ethical politics, especially in constituencies where the party's victory is considered almost certain. Reports indicate that at least seven local government head nominations are tainted by suspicions of financial impropriety, with many of these originating from the party's traditional support bases in the Jeolla provinces. The party leadership, including Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae, has stated that thorough investigations are underway, emphasizing a commitment to the strictest moral standards. However, the recurring nature of these scandals raises serious questions about the effectiveness of internal controls and the party's ability to enforce its own ethical guidelines.

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If this continues, by-elections will just repeat themselves.

Adding to the internal turmoil, opposition parties have seized on the issue. Shin Jang-shik, a senior official from the Jo Guk Innovation Party, criticized the Democratic Party, suggesting that without significant reform, similar scandals are likely to plague future elections. This external pressure highlights the broader political implications of the ongoing controversy.

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In a structure where nomination equals election, spending money on nominations is bound to be cheaper than campaigning.

Within the Democratic Party itself, there is a growing call for systemic change. Some members, like Im Mi-ae, the party's North Gyeongsang Provincial Committee Chairwoman, argue that the current electoral system, where a nomination often guarantees election in safe seats, incentivizes 'money politics.' She advocates for expanding the use of multi-member constituencies (electing 3-5 representatives per district) as a means to foster genuine competition and dilute the influence of money in nominations. This sentiment is echoed by a coalition of smaller progressive parties that have jointly proposed amendments to the Public Official Election Act, aiming to significantly increase penalties for vote-buying and restrict the candidacy of those involved. The Hankyoreh frames this debate as a crucial moment for the Democratic Party to address the deep-seated issues of electoral corruption and demonstrate a genuine commitment to reform.

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The best way to neutralize 'money politics' is to ensure free competition so that nominations do not automatically lead to election, and for this, we need to increase the implementation of '3-5 member multi-member constituencies.'