With the possibility of a Seoul mayoral by-election opening on Apr. next year, the political world is already turning its attention to the race. In particular, Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok appear to be staking their leadership on winning the Seoul mayoralty. Even though it is still uncertain whether the election will be held at all, the atmosphere is overheating to the point that matchups of ruling and opposition candidates are being mentioned.
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said since the party convention that he would stake his reinstatement on the outcome of the Seoul mayoral election. With President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party's approval ratings falling recently, a turning point is needed to keep a strong hold on party leadership through the next general election. If a Seoul mayoral by-election is held next year, he appears to be planning to make retaking the mayoralty that turning point.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok also earnestly hopes to win the Seoul mayoral by-election. Although he is in his second year as party leader, not only the pro-leadership faction and younger lawmakers but even senior lawmakers from the Yeongnam region are turning their backs. To overcome this backlash and win another term at the party convention scheduled for Aug. next year, he needs a clear achievement, and holding the Seoul mayor's office can be seen as well suited to that.
A People Power Party leadership official said, "As public sentiment on real estate toward the Lee Jae-myung administration keeps worsening, the Seoul mayoral election is a favorable fight," adding, "From Jang's standpoint, it could be a sure trophy ahead of the party convention." Another official said, "If Jang fields a candidate favorable to him and wins the Seoul mayoral election, he could calculate that he would be able to seek another term with strengthened control over the party before the convention."
Because Mayor Oh Se-hoon's election law case has only a first-instance ruling, whether a Seoul mayoral election will be held in Apr. next year is still uncertain. But the atmosphere is heating up early, with even potential matchups of ruling and opposition candidates being mentioned.
In the Democratic Party, the names of lawmakers Jeon Hyun-hee, Seo Young-kyo, and Park Ju-min, who were eliminated in the primary during the last local elections, are being mentioned. There is also talk that Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik or Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ihk-pyo at the presidential office could be tapped.
However, the presidential office is said to have a subtly different view from the Democratic Party. A political source said, "In the June 3 local elections, candidate Chong Won-o lost to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and didn't the ruling party lawmakers now being mentioned lose to Chong Won-o in the party primary?" adding, "From the presidential office's standpoint, they may not find it suitable."
In the People Power Party, heavyweight incumbent lawmakers such as Na Kyung-won, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Shin Dong-wook are being floated as candidates. A political source said, "Since this is an election likely to be held under conditions favorable to the People Power Party, opposition figures will line up to run," adding, "Competition is expected to be fierce because a win would make the person a presidential contender."