[칼럼] Korea  Story 42 - Politics and Election 6  by Atty Jeong-kee Kim

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = Korea  Story 42 - <Politics and Election 6  by Atty Jeong-kee Kim>

● Secret plan for victory in the 2024 general election *authored on June 3, 2023.

What efforts are needed to achieve transparency and fairness in nominations for the general election?

The party leadership must be actively involved but should not hesitate to seek out talent for electoral victory. President Yoon Suk-yeol's current appointment practices are typical of nepotism. While selecting familiar and trusted individuals might seem advantageous, appointments, such as those for nominations, should be entrusted to the electorate—the market. In other words, nominations should align with the public's standards. This means creating a transparent and fair nomination system that everyone can understand and trust, and identifying and promoting individuals with genuine dedication and practical skills who are committed to serving the nation. The best solution would be to implement an open primary system, returning nomination authority to the public, which would help ensure victories in critical regions like the capital area.

What strategies should be developed to lead the general election to victory?

The 2024 general election currently looks like a defeat based on big data analysis of electoral districts. Nonetheless, there should be hope and effort towards success. Almost half of the 253 Congressional district seats are in the capital area (121 seats: 49 in Seoul, 59 in Gyeonggi, and 13 in Incheon). The People Power Party holds only 19 seats (9 in Seoul, 8 in Gyeonggi, and 2 in Incheon), while the Democratic Party holds 100 seats (40 in Seoul, 49 in Gyeonggi, and 11 in Incheon), with the Justice Party and independents holding 1 seat each. This indicates a significant advantage for the Democratic Party in the capital area, making it a stronghold for them.

To achieve the dream of becoming the majority party, at least 30 additional seats in the capital area must be secured, approaching nearly 40% of the total seats. How can this dream become a reality? Party leader must implement a transparent and fair strategy based on tailored candidate selection. In the 2020 election, the Democratic Party achieved an overwhelming victory by meticulously analyzing the capital area's Congressional districts and deploying tailor-made candidates to defeat the opposition. The People Power Party should benchmark this successful strategy and apply it to their context.

The leader of the People Power Party should categorize the 40 or so districts in the capital area into competitive categories (strong, moderate, weak) and focus on tailored candidate selection to beat the opponents in these districts. By concentrating party resources in these areas, securing 50 seats in the capital region should be manageable. Additionally, in regions where the Democratic Party is strong but faces internal splits or intense competition from the Justice Party, gaining 10 additional seats through opportunistic victories could help achieve a total of 60 seats, covering half of the capital area's seats.

If the party leader fails to devise and implement such a strategy, a loss in the capital area will be almost inevitable. In such a crisis, it is advisable to unofficially appoint Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as the key figure in the capital area to lead the victory. Oh Se-hoon demonstrated his strength by winning all administrative districts in Seoul in the last election. His success could have a ripple effect throughout the capital region, making his utilization a viable alternative strategy.

How will the president’s performance impact the general election?

President Yoon Suk-yeol's performance will significantly influence the election outcome. The 2024 general election will serve as a midterm evaluation of his administration. Yoon’s foreign policy and security stance, including the restoration of the Korea-U.S. alliance and regaining international trust, might positively affect his approval ratings. However, economic challenges such as the lingering effects of COVID-19, the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Hamas conflict, which may worsen domestic economic conditions, could pose a risk to election prospects. Therefore, there must be significant reform achievements with visible short-term results.

Labor reform could become a major issue. A decisive battle against the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) should be declared to create a unified front. This would involve initiating a 'frame war' that traditionally aligns with leftist strategies. Pension reform should be deferred until after the election, and education reform should be assigned to Minister Lee Ju-ho. The key to winning the 2024 general election lies in the capital area, where moderate swing voters are numerous. To attract these voters, a major, headline-grabbing issue is essential. This is President Yoon’s responsibility. Starting an all-out battle with the KCTU by January at the latest is crucial, as mere localized skirmishes will not provide decisive electoral advantages. By conducting a comprehensive war following the principles of law and order, as exemplified by U.S. President Ronald Reagan or UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President Yoon could become a national hero. Successfully leveraging this major issue to target swing voters in the capital area with a pinpoint strategy would ensure a landslide victory.

In the end, victory in the 2024 general election depends on President Yoon Seok-yeol's ability to conduct state affairs and People Power Party leader's capabilities.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)