Getting tickets for the presidential election in Korea

Abstract

This study attempts to explain in what conditions political parties in Korea reshaped their old candidate selection method (CSM) and adopted open primaries. This study shows that open primaries were adopted by compromise between major and minor factions due to their electoral or factional benefits. Second, it shows that it was the electoral utility of open primaries, rather than the demand for party democratization, that drove the adoption of the new CSM. Third, it shows that the presence of popular presidential candidates is considerable leverage of minor factions in the negotiation for the adoption of open primaries. Finally, it shows that the extremely limited empowerment of party members, as well as personalized party politics, facilitated the radical reform of CSMs in Korea.