청 홍보라인 총선 도전, 냉탕·온탕의 갈림길

Democratic Party's Challenging Primary Race for General Election... Former Spokespersons Park Suhyun and Gominjeong Hold Relative Advantage

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The positions of Blue House spokesperson and Chunchoogwan chief remain vacant. They are expected to be filled after the Lunar New Year holiday, but there is no definite timeline. The reason the Blue House publicity line remains vacant is due to candidacies for the general election.

Former Blue House spokesperson Ko Min-jung and former Chunchoogwan chief Yoo Song-hwa both threw their hats in the ring for the 21st general election. Former Senior Secretary for Public Communication Yoon Young-chan, former spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, former spokesperson Park Soo-hyun, and former Chunchoogwan chief Kwon Hyuk-gi all left the Blue House early to run in the election. Except for former spokesperson Park, who is a former lawmaker, all are political newcomers.

The election results of those who served as President Moon Jae-in’s "voice" and the Blue House’s "voice" are a subject of interest. To realize their dream of entering the 21st National Assembly, they must first pass the hurdle of party nomination. In the worst case, they may have to postpone their dream without even running in the election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park, who is running in Gongju-si, Buyeo-gun, and Cheongyang-gun in Chungnam, is relatively less worried about the nomination. He is waiting for the day to face off against the incumbent Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok in the general election. Former spokesperson Ko Min-jung also has less concern about the nomination since she decided to run for the election at the urging of the Democratic Party, although her electoral district has not yet been decided.

However, the situation is different for others. Former Senior Secretary Yoon started local activities early to run for the election but must pass the Democratic Party nomination competition in Seongnam Jungwon, where he plans to run. In Jungwon, Jo Shin, former Public Relations Manager of the Participatory Government’s National Information Office and former full-time member and planning director of the Presidential National Education Council, has already registered as a Democratic Party preliminary candidate.

Former spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom is preparing to run in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, but passing the Democratic Party’s Candidate Verification Committee is crucial. In Gunsan, Shin Young-dae, a former Blue House administrator during the Participatory Government and a specialist at the Balanced Development Committee, has registered as a preliminary candidate.

Former Chunchoogwan chief Kwon Hyuk-gi is putting effort into running in Yongsan, Seoul, but the intra-party nomination competition is fierce before the general election. Former Seoul Deputy Mayor for Administration Kang Tae-woong has entered the ruling party’s nomination race for Yongsan. In Yongsan, lawyer Seon Jong-moon, former special advisor to Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign Do Cheon-su, and Im Chae-won, special committee member for future generations at the National Balanced Development Committee, have registered as Democratic Party preliminary candidates.

Former Chunchoogwan chief Yoo Song-hwa has challenged the district of a current Democratic Party lawmaker. Yoo, preparing to run in Nowon-gap, Seoul, must overcome the nomination competition against incumbent Democratic lawmaker Ko Yong-jin to realize her candidacy dream.