An unusual situation has emerged in the Democratic Party’s Jeonbuk provincial branch list contest: female candidates have effectively locked in winnable slots without facing genuine competition. Critics say the party’s failure to recruit talent, combined with recent institutional changes, has undermined its basic responsibility to vet candidates.
On April 21, the Jeonbuk branch of the Democratic Party said the provincial council list primary had been narrowed to two women and two men. Under party rules, women are assigned odd-numbered slots (1 and 3) and men receive even-numbered slots (2 and 4).
The problem stems from a collapse in the pool of female candidates. Five people initially applied; four were cut at once, leaving only one. The branch launched a late supplemental recruitment drive, but just one candidate responded, so only two women ended up on the list.
That two-person nomination structure became effectively decisive after the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Political Reform revised the election law. The share of proportional representation seats for provincial councilors rose from 10% to 14%, increasing the Jeonbuk Assembly’s PR seats from four to six.
Under the Public Official Election Act, limits on any single party’s domination of PR seats mean the Democratic Party’s maximum share rose from two seats to three. As a result, the two women placed at numbers 1 and 3 are essentially assured election regardless of party-member vote totals.
In short, the primary survives in form only; meaningful competition and candidate vetting have disappeared. With filing alone now amounting to election, observers inside and outside the party have criticized the process as a “nomination failure that goes beyond opaque, ‘blind’ selections.”
Local political figures view this as a structural problem rather than merely a shortfall in candidates.
A political source said, “When submitting paperwork essentially guarantees election, it is evidence that Jeonbuk’s political talent pool has been depleted. The party bears significant responsibility for failing to secure a candidate pool commensurate with the expanded seats.” The source added, “Even now, the party should restore voters’ choice and at least basic vetting through supplemental recruitment or other corrective measures.”
