Korean Politics: Nominations Decided by 'Stake,' Not Family Ties
With a structure in place for Japan's three essential political elements—foundation (organization), signboard (recognition), and bag (funds)—to accumulate across generations, political families where children inherit their fathers' constituencies have formed. Voters largely do not object, to the point where individuals like Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, are cited as exceptions for not coming from political families.
Unlike in Japanese politics where constituency inheritance is taken for granted, cases in Korea where children or relatives of specific politicians inherit constituencies have repeatedly occurred, drawing criticism of 'legacy seat transfers' each time. At least formally, the appearance of a nomination process involving vetting and competition has been maintained.
What is noteworthy in Korean politics is a different form of succession, not based on blood ties. In regions where a particular party holds overwhelming superiority, nominations effectively signify victory, leading to a 'stake inheritance' structure where nominations function as a means of power distribution rather than the outcome of competition.
The upcoming June 3 local elections offer examples that highlight this trend even more clearly. With President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings nearing 70%, solidifying a dominant ruling party structure, nominations have become a more decisive battleground than the general election, reinforcing the tendency to place candidates in winnable positions. In the case of Ansan Gap, Gyeonggi Province, the constituency of former Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Moon-seok, who lost his seat after his conviction for loan fraud, internal and external party tensions are ongoing over candidate selection.
Succession is not necessarily absent just because it is not through blood ties. As the criteria and procedures become blurred in the process of political opportunities and resources being repeatedly distributed within specific groups, voters' substantive choices are constrained. In some areas where nomination discussions are heating up ahead of the June 3 local elections, voters are witnessing scenes where candidate selection and artificial placement are discussed before candidate vetting.