United Democratic Party Primary to Resume Sunday

The United Democratic Party reportedly will resume its primary vote next Sunday, October 14. The party put its primary on hold amid internal feuds over candidate-selection methods.

It also suspended its first set of mobile polls slated for today and tomorrow. The party leadership plans to talk with its presidential hopefuls and decide when to hold them.

Party leader Oh Chung-il explained at a press conference yesterday at the party headquarters in Seoul, “Our lack of management capacity and the foul play of some candidates are threatening the fairness of our primary. We cannot let this continue. That was why we needed a break. We will conduct the remaining regional polls simultaneously next Sunday.”

He added, “We know what the candidates want and where the problems lie. We will look deep into the allegations of illegal voter registration and campaign activities. If we detect and verify any illegal activities, we will hold the candidate involved liable for what he has done or condoned, including deprivation of candidacy.”

Originally, the party was to hold polls in Daejeon and two other regions on October 6, in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon on October 13, and in Daegu and N. Gyeongsang Province on October 14. All of these polls will now take place on October 14. Then, the party will conduct its official primary ballet counting on October 15 and announce the party’s presidential candidate on the same day.

The party’s two underdog candidates, former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-gyu and former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, reportedly have agreed to honor the new schedule.

Leading contender Chung Dong-young fumed, however, and said through a spokesperson, “The party never discussed the matters with me. All of sudden, leadership changed the schedule. Watching all the recent changes and moves, I cannot brush away the impression that they are trying to disadvantage me. From the beginning, our party announced that we would make every effort to hear more from citizens, and decided that the divided and regional election system would best serve that goal. Cramming all the polls into one day is like giving up our underlying principle, and breaking up what was a fair, level playing field.”

“We have not decided whether to honor the new procedure or not. We just got the notice. I will discuss it with my campaign staff,” Chung added.

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