Attention is turning to the high cost of running for public office in South Korea after Rep. Lee Jun-seok, head of the minor opposition Reform Party, pledged to allow candidates to run in local elections with just 990,000 won ($670).
In a video uploaded to his Instagram account Friday, Lee said, “In the Reform Party, you can run in a local election with 990,000 won,” adding that the party will recruit 4,000 political candidates.
“Korean politics has completely failed,” Lee said in the video.
“Those of you watching this video could do politics better than they ever have,” he added. “That’s why anyone in the Reform Party can run for office with 990,000 won.”
In a separate Facebook post, Lee said running for office has long been out of reach for ordinary citizens. “As a result, politics has been left to those with money, time and connections,” he added.
His remarks drew renewed attention amid mounting controversies over nomination-related donations involving the ruling Demo
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