A sixth term in the National Assembly looks likely for Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate in the Incheon Yeonsu A by-election.
As of 12:15 a.m. on the 4th, with 23.73% of ballots counted, candidate Song leads comfortably with 14,758 votes (61.47%) over People Power Party candidate Park Jong-jin, who has 7,022 votes (29.25%). KBS, which is airing the vote count, sees Song's victory as likely.
Song is a senior ruling-party lawmaker who previously served as Incheon mayor and a five-term member of the National Assembly. Observers said there was a significant gap in political weight compared with Park Jong-jin or Reform Party candidate Jung Seung-yeon.
Song first entered the National Assembly in the 16th general election in 2000. He won five consecutive terms solely in Gyeyang and also served as Incheon mayor from 2010 to 2014.
If Song enters the National Assembly, he is expected to square off against party leader Jung Chung-rae.