The Democratic Party of Korea selected Park Soo-hyun as its candidate for South Chungcheong governor in the June 3 local elections. Park will face incumbent South Chungcheong Gov. Kim Tae-heum of the People Power Party.
So Byung-hoon, chair of the Democratic Party's Central Election Commission, held a briefing on the 15th and said, "As a result of the runoff to select the South Chungcheong governor candidate, Park Soo-hyun was chosen." The runoff was conducted from on the 13th to that day, using a method of "50% party members with voting rights, 50% public opinion poll." Vote totals by candidate are not disclosed.
Based on the runoff results, the South Chungcheong gubernatorial race is expected to be a contest between Park and Gov. Kim Tae-heum. Park's constituency of Gongju, Buyeo and Cheongyang in South Chungcheong will likely hold a by-election.
Immediately after being selected, Park said in a statement, "I will make South Chungcheong a place where possibilities blossom and opportunities abound," and added, "I will fulfill candidate Na So-yeol's vision for local decentralization and candidate Yang Seung-jo's vision for a welfare-focused South Chungcheong."