As the Democratic Party of Korea has completed strategic nominations in five regions, including North Jeolla, Gwangju, Jeju and Daegu, only the strategic nomination for one constituency—Gongju, Buyeo and Cheongyang in South Chungcheong—remains.
On the afternoon of the 6th, the Democratic Party held a strategic nomination committee and nominated former lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom for Gunsan, Gimje and Buan A, and Supreme Council member Park Ji-won for Gunsan, Gimje and Buan B. It also nominated Im Moon-young, standing vice chair of the National AI Strategy Commission, for Gwangsan B in Gwangju; Kim Seong-beom, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, for Seogwipo in Jeju; and Park Hyeong-ryong, the party's district head in Dalseong County, for Dalseong County in Daegu.
Kang Jun-hyeon, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, said, "Under the principle of recruiting outside talent and promoting internal talent to reassign trusted figures, the strategic nomination committee is placing the most competitive candidates in the right positions," and added, "We will do our utmost until the end so that the visionary candidates released today can be chosen by the public."
However, the Democratic Party will continue discussions over the candidate for Gongju, Buyeo and Cheongyang, which became vacant after lawmaker Park Soo-hyun ran for South Chungcheong governor. Cho Seung-rae, the party's secretary-general, said on the 6th regarding the nomination for the Gongju, Buyeo and Cheongyang constituency in South Chungcheong, "At a National Election Commission meeting on the 4th, we confirmed that former county head Park Jeong-hyeon would have difficulty running."
Cho went on to say, "We are searching for and contacting potential candidates," and explained, "We had drawn up a list before, but we need more time to carry out concrete recruitment and persuasion efforts."
Regarding Won Seong-su, former president of Kongju National University, who was mentioned in some reports, Cho said, "As someone from Gongju who attended elementary, middle and high school in the area and served as president of Kongju National University, we judged he would be a suitable figure for regional development and made an offer," and added, "I met him in person the day before to encourage him to run, and he is currently giving it careful thought."
He also said, "We are additionally reaching out to a young figure from the legal profession," adding, "It is difficult to make that person public yet."