[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] In the first primary of the Democratic Party's April 15 general election, upsets occurred as incumbent lawmakers were defeated by non-incumbents. In the first primary alone, seven incumbent lawmakers were eliminated from the nomination, and in the highly watched district of 'Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul,' former lawmaker Kim Min-seok defeated incumbent Shin Kyung-min to advance to the main election.
The Democratic Party's Election Management Committee announced the results of the first primary in 29 districts on the night of the 26th. Originally, the first primary was held in 30 districts, but the announcement for Busanjin-gu-eul, where former Health and Welfare Ministry policy advisor Kim Seung-joo and former Food and Drug Safety Administration chief Ryu Young-jin faced off, was postponed.
In Yeongdeungpo-eul, where a tense battle between candidates began from the nomination interview stage, former lawmaker Kim secured the nomination by defeating incumbent Shin.
In Gyeonggi Anyang Dongan-gap, where three candidates, including incumbent lawmaker Lee Seok-hyun (six terms) and proportional representative Kwon Mi-hyuk, competed, Min Byung-duk, representative lawyer of Minbon Law Firm, overcame the 'incumbent premium' of Lee Joong and won the nomination.
Also, in Anyang Manan, preliminary candidate Kang Deuk-gu defeated incumbent five-term lawmaker Lee Jong-gul to advance to the main election, and in Seoul Seongbuk-gap, preliminary candidate Kim Young-bae caused an upset by defeating three-term veteran lawmaker Yoo Seung-hee.
In Jeonbuk Iksan-gap, preliminary candidate Kim Soo-heung defeated lawmaker Lee Chun-seok to secure the nomination, and in Seoul Gangdong-eul, Lee Hae-sik, former Gangdong District Mayor and Democratic Party spokesperson, defeated incumbent lawmaker Shim Jae-kwon to confirm the nomination.
In total, seven incumbent lawmakers were eliminated in this first primary.
On the other hand, incumbents secured nominations in 15 districts including Seoul Jungnang-gap (Seo Young-kyo), Eunpyeong-eul (Kang Byung-won), Seocho-eul (Park Kyung-mi), Gyeonggi Bucheon Wonmi-eul (Seol Hoon), Namyangju-eul (Kim Han-jung), Paju-gap (Yoon Hu-duk), Gwangju-gap (So Byung-hoon), Bundang-gap (Kim Byung-kwan), Ulsan Buk (Lee Sang-heon), Chungbuk Jecheon Danyang (Lee Hu-sam), Chungnam Nonsan·Gyeryong·Geumsan (Kim Jong-min), Dangjin (Uh Ki-gu), Jeonbuk Wanju·Jinan·Muju·Jangsu (Ahn Ho-young), Jeju Jeju-eul (Oh Young-hoon), and Daejeon Yuseong-eul (Lee Sang-min).
Additionally, nominations were confirmed in districts where only non-incumbents competed, such as Busan Seo·Dong (Lee Jae-gang), Saha-eul (Lee Sang-ho), Daegu Dalseong (Park Hyung-ryong), Dalseo-eul (Heo So), Gyeongnam Jinju-gap (Jung Young-hoon), Changwon Masanhappo (Park Nam-hyun), Geoje (Moon Sang-mo), and Ulsan Nam-eul (Park Sung-jin).
This primary was conducted through an automated response system (ARS) public opinion poll (50% party members, 50% general citizens), with additional points and deductions applied per candidate.
Meanwhile, a second primary will be held in 14 districts by the 28th. All second primary contests are between non-incumbents.
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