With the 9th nationwide local elections 56 days away, matchups for metropolitan mayors and governors have been set in 4 of 16 regions. The Democratic Party of Korea is seeing fierce primaries in areas where it finalized single-candidate nominations. The People Power Party, by contrast, is facing a shortage of candidates in some regions and has launched an additional call for applications.
◇ A fight between "retake" and "hold"… Ruling party candidates face opposition incumbents
As of Apr. 8, matchups for the metropolitan elections have been finalized in four regions: Gangwon, South Gyeongsang, Incheon and Ulsan. These areas currently have People Power Party chiefs and are considered "tough terrain" for the Democratic Party. To retake these regions, the Democratic Party decided to move early with single-candidate nominations and to throw its support behind them.
In South Gyeongsang, part of the Yeongnam region, the Democratic Party's former governor Kim Kyeong-soo will face the People Power Party's incumbent Governor Park Wan-su. It is a rare showdown between a former and current officeholder. Both share the strength of solid local bases: Kim served as a lawmaker in Gimhae, while Park served in Changwon. Kim, until recently the head of the Committee for the Era of Local Autonomy, is emphasizing that he can work in step with the government, while Park stresses the stability of an incumbent and notes that Kim was recently pardoned.
Gangwon and Ulsan, seen as tough terrain for the Democratic Party, will also see contests between a Democratic Party pushing to retake them and a People Power Party trying to hold them. In Gangwon, Woo Sang-ho, the first presidential senior secretary for political affairs under the Lee Jae-myung administration, received a single-candidate nomination from the Democratic Party. People Power Party Governor Kim Jin-tae, seeking reelection, is emphasizing his image as a "sitting administrator." In Ulsan, a head-to-head race is expected between Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who moved over from the People Power Party, and Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-kyum, who is seeking a second term.
In Incheon, part of the greater capital area, three-term lawmaker Park Chan-dae, a former floor leader, will face Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who is seeking a third term. Because both are considered heavyweight figures, the Incheon mayoral race is expected to be a so-called "big match." Park, a key figure in the pro–Lee Jae-myung faction, is the Democratic Party's "No. 1 single-candidate nomination." Yoo has solid experience built not only as a basic and metropolitan government head but also as a three-term lawmaker and a Minister.
◇ Nominations to be finalized by mid-month… noise emerging in both ruling and opposition camps
The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party plan to complete their local election nominations as early as mid-month. As the nomination process enters the final stretch, both parties are experiencing noise. For the Democratic Party, it is arising from overheated primaries; for the People Power Party, from the process of building a slate of candidates.
In the Democratic Party, Noh Young-min, former presidential chief of staff, who was eliminated in the North Chungcheong governor primary, filed for a review. In addition, a complaint alleging that Shin Yong-han, who was confirmed as the final candidate, violated the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act during the primary was filed with police and the National Election Commission the previous day. During the Seoul mayoral primary, lawmakers Park Ju-min and Chungh Waon-oh accused the camp of former Seongdong District Chief Chong Won-o of distorting a public opinion poll, and Kim Jae-seop, a People Power Party lawmaker, filed a complaint over the matter.
The People Power Party decided to accept additional applications for the Gyeonggi governor and North Jeolla governor candidates from Apr. 10 to 12. The party is facing a shortage because it is concerned about the competitiveness of those running in Gyeonggi, and because no applicants have yet emerged in North Jeolla. By contrast, many applicants have flocked to TK (Daegu–North Gyeongsang) and North Chungcheong, where the People Power Party is strong. A political insider said, "The Democratic Party quickly decided candidates in tough terrain, while the People Power Party is crowded only in its strongholds."