South Korean Local Councils Plagued by Power Grabs and Betrayals

Newly elected local councils across South Korea are descending into chaos, with "power grabs" and "backroom deals" overshadowing their mandate to serve constituents. The "ink on the election certificates" has barely dried, yet elected officials are already betraying the public's will.

In Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, the 10th Dongducheon City Council, initially composed of four Democratic Party members and three People Power Party members, saw its first-term speaker elected through a controversial maneuver. Im Hyun-sook, a Democratic Party councilor, abruptly defected to become an independent, securing the speaker position with the support of People Power Party members. The deputy speaker then became Song Heung-seok of the People Power Party. This outcome left the Democratic Party stunned.

The controversy stemmed from an internal party vote for speaker. When the vote was tied 2-2 between Im and another candidate, the Democratic Party's provincial chapter decided to back the elder candidate, Kim. In response, Im defected just before the speaker vote, winning with four votes from the People Power Party. The Gyeonggi Northern Peace Citizens' Action group protested at the council's opening ceremony, stating, "They threw away voter trust for a single speaker's seat."

Similar scenarios are unfolding nationwide. In Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, where the Democratic Party held a one-seat majority, councilor Jang Cheon-bae defied the party's decision to nominate another candidate and ran for speaker, winning with People Power Party support. This led to a boycott of the plenary session by Democratic Party members. In Sacheon City, Gyeongsang Province, where the council was evenly split, councilor Choi Yong-seok of the Democratic Party secretly submitted his resignation the day before the speaker election and secured the position with seven votes by gaining support from People Power Party members. Democratic Party councilors in Sacheon are demanding his resignation, calling it a "betrayal of voters."

In Seoul's Yangcheon District, a peculiar situation arose where all eight People Power Party members abstained, yet People Power Party councilor Im Ok-yeon secured the speakership with 10 votes. This implied that all Democratic Party members voted for Im, a candidate from the opposing party. The People Power Party issued a statement questioning the circumstances and background of the vote, refusing to recognize the result. Allegations of promised positions in exchange for party defections have also surfaced. Han Ji-hye, elected under the Democratic Party's nomination in Yeonsu District, Incheon, defected just three days into her term, shifting the council's balance from an even 7-7 split to 7 People Power Party, 6 Democratic Party, and 1 independent. The People Power Party subsequently secured the speaker and deputy speaker positions. The Democratic Party suspects Han was promised the chairpersonship of the Urban Development Committee.

In areas with an even split of seats, the competition for control has led to indefinite delays in forming council committees. This is often due to local council ordinances or rules that decide the speaker based on the number of election attempts or age in case of a tie vote, leading to dissatisfaction and conflict from the losing side.

In Dangjin City, South Chungcheong Province, where both parties hold seven seats, an agreement was reached for the Democratic Party to take the first-term speakership. However, a deadlock persists over the candidate selection, with the Democratic Party backing three-term councilor Kim Myung-jin and the People Power Party supporting two-term councilor Kim Seon-ho. Similarly, in Boryeong City, also with a 7-7 split, the Democratic Party, having the most senior and oldest members, was expected to take the first-term speakership. However, the People Power Party's demand for the second-term speakership in return, which the Democratic Party cannot yet guarantee, has stalled the legislative schedule. In Seosan City, also split 7-7, the Democratic Party members walked out of a provisional session, canceling the speaker election, citing the People Power Party's attempt to secure both the first and second-term speakerships.

Even when party agreements are made, individual members' actions can break them. In Okcheon County, North Chungcheong Province (5 Democratic Party, 3 People Power Party), an agreement was made for the Democratic Party to hold the speakership and the People Power Party the deputy speakership. However, the People Power Party's chosen candidate, Jo Gyu-ryong, was bypassed, and Choi Eun-sik, also from the People Power Party, was elected deputy speaker with the votes of Democratic Party members. The People Power Party claims the Democratic Party broke the agreement.

The "lightning-fast defections" and "backroom deal" controversies are attributed to the significant prestige and power associated with the local council speaker position. It ranks second only to the mayor or county governor in protocol, comes with a monthly allowance of millions of won, a official vehicle, and a driver. It's also seen as a stepping stone for future mayoral or parliamentary candidacies.

Go Chan-seok, a Gyeonggi Provincial Council member, described the local council speaker position as one that "exerts exclusive personnel authority over council staff and can manipulate the council's budget." He added, "The desire for honor, coupled with unchecked power, leads people to resort to any means necessary." He called the "vote-buying and infighting a tragedy born from individuals seeking to increase their political stature and ego."

Amidst this, unusual incidents are occurring. In Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do, Democratic Party councilor Jeong Su-jin, frustrated by being denied her desired standing committee assignment, caused a commotion by leaving the meeting with the speaker's gavel after her request to speak was rejected.

Lee Kwang-ho, co-executive director of the Citizens' Autonomy Regional Movement Federation, criticized the situation, stating, "Local councils across the country are prioritizing greed for positions, betrayal, monopolization, and confrontation over people's livelihoods as they take their first steps." He condemned it as "a bad political act that uses the sacred power granted by citizens as a bargaining chip for personal political advancement and positions."