The Democratic Party of Korea has given strategic nominations related to the by-elections for National Assembly members on June, assigning former Gangwon governor Lee Kwang-jae to Hanam-gap in Gyeonggi, Spokesperson Kim Nam-kuk of the Democratic Party to Ansan-gap, and former Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Yong-nam to Pyeongtaek-eul. Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democratic Research Institute, who had hoped to run in the Gyeonggi region, did not make the list for this round of strategic nominations.
On the afternoon of the 27th, the Democratic Party held a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly and decided on candidates for the National Assembly by-elections in Hanam-gap and Ansan-gap in Gyeonggi and Pyeongtaek-eul in this way. Earlier, the party's Strategic Nomination Management Committee held a meeting that day to discuss the pool of by-election candidates.
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, said after the supreme council meeting that day, "In Hanam-gap, we placed former Governor Lee Kwang-jae, who practiced 'putting the party before self-interest' whenever the party was in difficulty," adding, "Lee is a heavyweight politician who served three National Assembly terms and as a metropolitan governor, and is the right person to quickly resolve major regional state projects by linking them directly with the central government."
He continued, "In Pyeongtaek-eul, which has a strong conservative bent, we nominated the reasonable figure, former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam," adding, "During the last presidential election process, there was a significant contribution to the expansion of our camp's breadth and to victory. With a broad base of support that transcends camps, there is general-election competitiveness to win."
Kang also said, "Former lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk worked until recently in the presidential office and has most deeply understood and communicated Lee Jae-myung's governing philosophy," adding, "With a high grasp of pending issues, Kim will immediately lead the Democratic Party to victory."
Former Governor Lee Kwang-jae, who received the Hanam-gap nomination, is known as an "original pro-Roh." Recently, he was mentioned as a candidate for Gangwon governor, but he reportedly yielded to Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gangwon governor. In response, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae also said, "(Lee) moved many people. There are loud calls that he should be given a chance in the by-election."
Spokesperson Kim Nam-kuk, nominated for Ansan-gap, signaled early on an intention to run in the Ansan-gap by-election. After the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, Kim served as presidential office digital communications secretary but resigned over a text message controversy involving a personnel solicitation with Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jin-seok. About two months after leaving the presidential office, Kim returned to Yeouido as a Democratic Party spokesperson.
Former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam, who received the Pyeongtaek-eul nomination, hails from a conservative party and joined the Reform Party in 2024 before joining the Democratic Party after expressing support for Lee Jae-myung during last year's presidential election. Initially, Kim was known to prefer running in Hanam-gap. However, it appears that based on the results of a public opinion poll between Lee and Kim regarding Hanam-gap and Pyeongtaek-eul, Kim was nominated for Pyeongtaek-eul.
Kim Yong, former deputy head of the institute and known as Lee Jae-myung's "alter ego," was not included among those whose nominations were announced that day. Although Kim had continually pressed the party leadership for a nomination, it appears Kim was excluded due to a "judicial risk" related to allegations of accepting illegal political funds. Given that many Democratic Party lawmakers had supported Kim's push for a nomination, there is a high likelihood this will become a source of internal conflict going forward.
Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's secretary-general, when asked, "Is there a possibility for Kim to run elsewhere?" said, "Many inside and outside the party voiced that (Kim) should be given an opportunity, but when comprehensively judging the overall impact, there was a determination that it would not be appropriate," adding, "It is also difficult to consider nominating Kim in another district."