The Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election was triggered when Chun Jae-soo, a three-term incumbent lawmaker, became the Democratic Party of Korea's Busan mayoral candidate. The Democratic Party of Korea nominated Ha Jung-woo, former presidential senior secretary for AI future planning, as its candidate. In response, Han Dong-hoon, former People Power Party leader, is running as an independent, and Park Min-sik, former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, is running as the People Power Party candidate. One rookie ruling-party candidate is facing two heavyweight opposition candidates. The three are running neck and neck.
◇Ha Jung-woo studied through elementary, middle, and high school in Busan but seems like an outsider
On the afternoon of the 7th in Jungni, Buk-gu, Busan, a ChosunBiz reporter met Cho Jong-rae (82, male), head of a senior citizens' center. Cho, speaking about Democratic Party of Korea candidate Ha Jung-woo, said, "He doesn't even seem like a Busan person, but suddenly shows up saying he's going into politics," adding, "Chun Jae-soo did really well, but I don't know about this side." Although Ha attended elementary, middle, and high school in Busan, not a few locals thought he was not from Busan.
Kim, a person surnamed Kim (30, male), who runs a fish shop at Gupo Market, said, "I remember candidate Ha Jung-woo because of his name, but other than that, I don't know him," adding, "In our neighborhood, we said we would vote for Chun Jae-soo no matter what, but now being told to find a new person all of a sudden is hard."
A woman in her 70s, a person surnamed Park, near a park by Gupo Market also clicked her tongue, saying, "I remember that when he came to greet us before, Chun Jae-soo brought (candidate Ha), but I don't even know what he does," adding, "He just sat there shaking off his hands." Ha drew controversy after shaking hands with local residents and then shaking off his hands. He explained that he did so because "my hands went numb from too many handshakes."
On the other hand, there were residents who wanted to elect Ha to support the government and the ruling party. Jung, a person surnamed Jung (52, male), who runs a restaurant at Gupo Market, said, "When I look at local friends, they all say they're voting for Ha Jung-woo," adding, "Right now I want to give strength to the picture the president is drawing."
◇"Han Dong-hoon and Park Min-sik need 'conservative unification,' but will it really happen?"
Among independent candidate Han Dong-hoon and People Power Party candidate Park Min-sik, conservative votes appear split. A woman in her 20s, a person surnamed Lee, met in the Deokcheon-dong underground shopping arcade, said, "Han Dong-hoon is smart and I like him," adding, "Peers I meet at school talk about Han Dong-hoon a lot." She also said, "Coming out as an independent rather than with the People Power Party was, in the end, a good choice."
By contrast, a woman in her 70s, a person surnamed Lee, met in front of Mandeok Catholic Church, said she would vote for Park Min-sik. Lee said, "Candidate Park lives next door, and a person can hardly be that kind," adding, "When I greeted him, he boasted that this time he would definitely do well."
Sentiment among market merchants was also divided. Choi, a person surnamed Choi (58, female), a merchant at Gupo Market, said, "It's true Park Min-sik left his district and went to Seoul, but wasn't he brought there because the president needed him to run the country?" adding, "Unlike other candidates, he kept living in Busan, and he lost three times in a row, so wouldn't it be okay to give him a chance once?"
On the other hand, Kim, a person surnamed Kim (30, male), a merchant at Gupo Market, said, "Honestly, I don't know much about any of the three, but if I had to pick, Han Dong-hoon," adding, "When Park Min-sik was the district lawmaker, I was in middle school and have no memory. Han Dong-hoon is better."
Some citizens said unification between candidates Han Dong-hoon and Park Min-sik was necessary. But there was skepticism about whether unification would actually be possible. A person surnamed Lee met in front of Mandeok Catholic Church said, "It looks like many people support Han Dong-hoon, but Park Min-sik doesn't seem willing to yield," adding, "Wouldn't Ha Jung-woo be the only one to have his cake and eat it too?"