With the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party wrapping up registration for preliminary candidates for metropolitan mayors and governors ahead of the June 3 local elections, the contours of the race are gradually coming into view. Candidates are flocking to their parties' strongholds, but in weak regions, there are either no entrants at all or it is hard to find anyone willing to run.
In the Democratic Party, eight candidates registered for the inaugural Jeonnam–Gwangju special mayor to be elected as a consolidated chief executive. In addition to incumbent Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung and incumbent South Jeolla Governor Kim Yung-rok, lawmakers Min Hyung-bae, Shin Jung-hoon, Lee Gae-ho, Chung Joon-ho, and Joo Cheol-hyeon, as well as former lawmaker Lee Byung-hoon, threw their hats into the ring. The Democratic Party plans to narrow the field from eight to five through a preliminary primary on the 19th–20th, followed by the main primary on Apr. 3–5.
The People Power Party signaled a fierce intraparty primary in its stronghold of TK (Daegu–North Gyeongsang). For the Daegu mayoral race, as many as nine registered as preliminary candidates: five incumbent lawmakers—Joo Ho-young, Yoon Jae-ok, Choo Kyung-ho, Yoo Young-ha, and Choi Eun-seok—along with former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook, former lawmaker Hong Seok-joon, former Daegu Dong District Chief Lee Jae-man, and Kim Han-goo, former auditor of the Dalseong-gun Saemaeul Association.
The North Gyeongsang gubernatorial race also formed a crowded field, with six preliminary candidates registering: incumbent Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won, lawmaker Lim Lee-ja, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Kyung-hwan, former lawmaker Baek Seung-joo, and former Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok.
◇ Candidate shortage in tough districts for both parties, "zero" in weaker regions
With the TK region a "tough district" for the Democratic Party of Korea and the Honam region one for the People Power Party, both parties are struggling to secure candidates in their weaker areas. In the Democratic Party, only former Blue House administrator Oh Jung-gi has applied for nomination for North Gyeongsang governor.
For Daegu mayor, there is talk that former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum may run, but he has not yet clarified his position. Former lawmaker Hong Ui-rak once expressed his intention to run for Daegu mayor but has suspended his campaign while urging Kim to run.
The People Power Party had no applicants registered as preliminary candidates for Jeonnam–Gwangju special mayor. In North Jeolla as well, only Kim Gwang-jong, a former independent candidate for National Assembly member in Jeonju-eul, stepped forward.
The People Power Party is facing a hiring crunch not only in Honam but also in Chungcheong. For South Chungcheong governor, there were no applicants after incumbent Governor Kim Tae-heum did not apply for nomination. In Daejeon and Sejong, incumbents Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo and Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho applied as preliminary candidates for the party's nomination.
◇ Noise even in strongholds… will conflicts grow
In party strongholds, tensions between candidates have continued from the early stages of the primary process. With a strong perception that winning the nomination is tantamount to winning the election, conflicts are emerging over the nomination rules.
On the 6th, candidate Cho Seong-cheol, who is preparing to run for Hampyeong county chief, directly protested to Party Leader Jeong at an on-site Supreme Council meeting. Cho argued that unfairness occurred during the central party's eligibility screening process, raising an issue by saying, "The central party overturned matters resolved by the provincial party's nomination committee."
The primary method surrounding the Jeonnam–Gwangju special mayor is also acting as a variable. On the 6th, the Democratic Party leadership decided to operate a "policy jury" focused on policy vetting instead of a juror system with voting rights, considering concerns that the citizen nomination jury system could exert excessive influence on candidate selection and raise fairness issues.
In response, incumbent Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung and lawmakers Shin Jung-hoon, Lee Gae-ho, and Chung Joon-ho pushed back. They were said to have met with Central Party Nomination Committee Chair Kim Yi-su on the 8th to demand a reconsideration of introducing the citizen nomination jury system. In the Honam political sphere, some noted, "Candidates whose support rates came out low in polls tried to seek a turnaround by introducing the citizen nomination jury system, but with the system's introduction falling through, a current of backlash within the party is also being sensed."
In the People Power Party, clashes continue between candidates and the leadership over administrative integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang, and the party has not coalesced around a single position on pushing integration. Joo Ho-young, who is preparing to run for Daegu mayor, reportedly demanded of Floor Leader Song Eon-seog at the general assembly on the 25th of last month, "Disclose who in the leadership opposed it," while Song countered, "We only asked that a procedure to gather residents' opinions be included."
Candidates also split over how to proceed with integration. Incumbent North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo is the most actively in favor of Daegu–North Gyeongsang integration, while North Gyeongsang gubernatorial preliminary candidate Lee Kang-deok emphasized a cautious approach, saying, "It is not that I oppose integration itself; it should be pushed after proper preparation."