Nominations for metropolitan mayors and governors by the People Power Party are heading into the final stretch despite all kinds of discord. The only place that has yet to decide on a nomination method is the Gyeonggi governor race. Inside and outside the People Power Party, attention is on whether former Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Minister Kim Moon-soo will appear again this time.
On the 23rd, a People Power Party official said, "With only the candidates who have so far declared runs for Gyeonggi governor, it won't be easy to beat the Democratic Party candidate in the general election, and Chairperson Lee is believed to be considering a new figure."
Within the People Power Party, two people — Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja and former lawmaker Ham Jin-gyu — have thrown their hats into the ring for Gyeonggi governor. In the Democratic Party, a main primary has been set among incumbent Governor Kim Dong-yeon and lawmakers Choo Mi-ae and Han Jun-ho. In political circles, there is an assessment that "it can be seen that the People Power Party candidates are inherently less recognizable than the Democratic Party candidates."
In this situation, Nomination Management Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun is said to be considering a "strategic nomination" instead of a primary. Previously, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min were mentioned as potential targets for a strategic pick, but both expressed negative views on running. Meanwhile, former Minister Kim Moon-soo is emerging as a strong contender. A People Power Party official said, "I understand the chairperson is communicating with the former minister through various channels."
Among the People Power Party's potential candidates, the former minister leads in name recognition. According to a poll conducted by Jowon C&I and Research & Research commissioned by "Pressian" on the 18th, the former minister ranked first with 26% in suitability for the People Power Party's Gyeonggi governor candidate. He outpaced Yoo Seong-min (25.6%), Yang Hyang-ja (5.8%), Cho Kwang-han (3.1%), and Ham Jin-gyu (1.9%). The survey was a telephone interview (CATI) poll of men and women 18 and older residing in Gyeonggi on the 16th–17th. (Sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For details, refer to the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.)
Such polling appears to be related to the former minister's political career. The former governor served two terms as Gyeonggi governor, building high name recognition in the province. In the last presidential election, he also ran as the People Power Party's presidential candidate. He then ran in the party leadership election.
There are also negative assessments of the former minister. First, the party lost both of the most recent elections inside and outside the party. He is relatively old (75) and carries an image fixed as hardline conservative.
A political source said, "While the Democratic Party is quickly finalizing its field of candidates and boosting the convention effect through a primary, the People Power Party still has not decided even the nomination method," adding, "In the Gyeonggi region, the gap in party support between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party has widened to more than double, and if the People Power Party's candidate selection is delayed too long, it will become even more difficult."