Real election sweepstakes?

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party said Thursday it will invite citizens selected by lottery to help choose its presidential candidate.

The selection of presidential candidates in South Korean political parties has been mired for years in rumors of bribery, cronyism and other unfair dealings; about 10,000 delegates now pick party candidates. The MDP's special reform committee, which made the decision to implement the new system, said it wants to give ordinary voters a chance to participate in choosing its presidential candidate.

The party plans to invite 15,000 voters to participate in the naming of its standard bearer. It will hold a lottery, the committee said, keeping voters' regional affiliations, sex, age and other factors in mind. The party will also more than triple the number of regular delegates in an attempt to deal with regional imbalances. Nearly 65 percent of the party's delegates now hail from the Jeolla provinces.

Political analysts said how many voters would actually choose to participate in the scheme is uncertain, as is the legality of inviting them to do so. The National Election Commission said that inviting voters to participate would be considered campaigning before the legally-sanctioned campaign period.

Representative Cho Se-hyung, who heads the reform committee, said if voters join the party before the primary, there should be no problem on either front. "Those who become party members would actively work toward the election of the candidate they selected," Mr. Cho said, adding that asking party members to help select a candidate could not be considered campaigning.

Representative Song Young-gil also said the new system could create interest among average voters and help the party move beyond its Jeolla base. Another official said the change could also trigger reform in the opposition parties.

by Kim Chong-hyuk