Kim Young-bae, a member of the Democratic Party and a candidate for the Seoul mayoral election, expressed concerns on June 6 regarding the party's primary rules leading to a superficial debate experience. Speaking on MBC Radio's program, he highlighted that the upcoming primary process involves only two online debates before voting, which may fail to provide adequate discussion on policies and candidate qualifications. He asserted the importance of thorough scrutiny and substantial debate, particularly in a time where voter engagement from party members is critical.

In his commentary, Kim criticized the party's approach as potentially veering towards a 'dark horse' scenario where candidates are not adequately assessed. He emphasized that candidates should present clear policies, engage in meaningful debates, and undergo proper vetting. He noted the frustration among several candidates who feel their concerns about the format and engagement levels are being ignored by party leadership, suggesting a careless oversight of candidate interactions and public accountability.

The Democratic Party's primary for the Seoul mayoral race is set to be a competitive five-way contest, including candidates such as Park Joo-min and Jeon Hyun-hee. The party aims to narrow down the field from five to three candidates based solely on 100% voting by party members during the preliminary rounds. Kim's remarks cast light on the tensions within the party as candidates prepare for a process that they believe could jeopardize proper democratic discourse.