Candidate selection for general elections

The outlook for next year’s general elections for the ruling Grand National Party is hardly rosy. According to a media survey conducted by party members, they predicted their party will take less than half of the seats (129 seats) in next year’s general elections, with some even saying 80 seats. According to a recent survey by Korea Gallup, only 28.9 percent of respondents said they will vote for the Grand National Party whereas 38.4 percent said they will vote for opposition parties. Some even say the ruling party will be fortunate in Seoul if they can get a third of the votes in the southern area. Certain opposition party members are confident of winning 20 seats among the 35 up for grabs in South Gyeongsang Province.

President Lee Myung-bak and Rep. Park Geun-hye, former leader of the Grand National Party, in a June 3 meeting shared a sense of crisis as they discussed the selection of candidates for the elections. Both denied media reports that they agreed on the principles of candidate selection. Yet leading party members say both figures did agree on selecting the right person to prevent the opposition from getting a parliamentary majority. The outcome remains unknown since the supporters of President Lee and Park are so divided. They still agree that they will pick candidates likely to win in next year`s elections.

The selection process of the Grand National Party ahead of the 15th general elections in 1996 offers a good lesson. It was successful in that the selections were based on fair competition and those brought in were prominent people outside politics. The ability of a person was prized, not connections. Among those selected were Lee Jae-oh, a Democratic Party lawmaker, Ahn Sang-soo and Hong Jun-pyo, both of whom were lawyers and junior assemblymen, and popular news anchorman Maeng Hyung-kyu. Lee Myung-bak, who was then a lawmaker with national constituencies, ran in Seoul`s Jongro District and won. Lee Hoi-chang, who had bad relations with then President Kim Young-sam, was named head of the general election campaign team. It was the first time a conservative party beat opposition parties in Seoul.

Next year’s general elections will be successful if President Lee and Park agree that candidate selection should be like that in 1996. Whether this will happen remains unknown, however. An aide to Park said the ruling party can prevent the opposition from claiming a majority if they can get 130-135 seats. Rumors have it that Park could head the election campaign committee. Whether ruling or opposition party, the correct method of winning over the people is selecting the right people.

Editorial Writer Lee Jin-nyong (jinnyong@donga.com)