Democratic Party Primary Begins... Attention on Incumbent 3-Termers vs. Blue House Alumni Showdown

Democratic Party's First Primary Voting from 24th to 26th
Proportional Representation Candidate Recruitment Also Begins

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea is accelerating its preparations for the general election as it enters the primary voting phase. Attention is focused on constituencies where incumbent lawmakers face off against former Blue House officials, as well as contests between incumbents and non-incumbents, during the first round of primary voting held from the 24th to the 26th. During the same period, the first call for proportional representation candidates will also take place.

The Democratic Party began the first round of primary voting at 9 a.m. on the 24th. In districts where the contest is between incumbents and former Blue House officials, incumbent lawmakers are emphasizing their strengths as senior or second-term lawmakers. Former Blue House candidates are intensifying their final campaign efforts by sharing anecdotes about President Moon Jae-in.

Yoo Seung-hee, running in Seongbuk-gap, emphasized her status as a three-term senior lawmaker. Kim Young-bae, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary, said, "As my term ends, I recall the president saying, 'I hope you do not let go of the people's hands,'" and is campaigning with the message, "Please stand with Kim Young-bae." In Namyangju-eul, incumbent lawmaker Kim Han-jung and former Blue House Personnel Secretary Kim Bong-jun are competing in the primary. Kim Han-jung is asking voters to "choose Kim Han-jung, a second-term lawmaker," while Kim Bong-jun is using the phrase "like Moon Jae-in’s Chief Secretary." Kang Byung-won, running in Seoul Eunpyeong-gu-eul, is urging voters to "choose a powerful second-term lawmaker," and candidate Kim Woo-young is encouraging primary voting with the phrase "former secretary to President Moon Jae-in."

The competition between incumbents and non-incumbents is also intense. Particularly in Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul, incumbent lawmaker Shin Kyung-min and former Democratic Research Institute Director Kim Min-seok drew attention with their preliminary contest. After the nomination interview on the 12th, Shin criticized Kim Min-seok, saying, "All the migratory birds have gathered in Yeongdeungpo." On the 19th, Shin posted on his Facebook that he met former President Roh Moo-hyun’s wife, Kwon Yang-sook, and said, "She, a long-time resident of Yeongdeungpo, encouraged me." In response, Kim Min-seok called it "a low-quality campaign that even exploits compliments." After the primary was confirmed, he emphasized, "I will win calmly like David."

In Seoul Gangdong-eul (Shim Jae-kwon, Lee Hae-sik), Jungnang-gap (Seo Young-kyo, Kang Sang-man), Seocho-eul (Park Kyung-mi, Kim Ki-young, Choi Eun-sang), Gyeonggi Seongnam Bundang-gap (Kim Byung-kwan, Kim Yong), Anyang Manan (Lee Jong-gul, Kang Deuk-gu), Bucheon Wonmi-eul (Seol Hoon, Seo Jin-woong, Seo Heon-seong), Paju-gap (Yoon Hu-deok, Jo Il-chul), and Gwangju-gap (So Byung-hoon, Park Hae-kwang), incumbents and non-incumbents will also compete in primaries. In Daejeon Yuseong-eul (Lee Sang-min, Kim Jong-nam), Ulsan Buk-gu (Lee Sang-heon, Lee Kyung-hoon), Chungbuk Jecheon-Danyang (Lee Hu-sam, Lee Kyung-yong), Chungnam Nonsan-Gyeryong-Geumsan (Kim Jong-min, Yang Seung-sook), Dangjin (Uh Ki-gu, Han Kwang-hee), Jeonbuk Iksan-gap (Lee Chun-seok, Kim Soo-heung), and Jeju Jeju-eul (Oh Young-hoon, Boo Seung-chan), incumbents and non-incumbent candidates will face off.

The Democratic Party’s first-ever call for proportional representation candidates is also underway from the 24th to the 26th. Since the party is expected to secure only 6 to 7 seats in this election, competition is anticipated to be as fierce as in the primaries. Among the party’s recruited talents, Professor Choi Hye-young of Kangdong University, a ballerina and spinal cord injury patient, and former Army General Kim Byung-joo are expected to run for proportional representation numbers 1 (female disabled) and 2 (foreign affairs and security), respectively. It is also reported that Kim Hong-gul, the third son of the late former President Kim Dae-jung and current Standing Chair of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, will run in the foreign affairs and security field.