Former Cheong Officials Gradually Pass Democratic Party Primaries... 15 Wins Out of 26 Candidates

Bae Jae-jung, Kim Young-bae, former civil affairs secretaries, and other Democratic Party candidates held a press conference on the afternoon of the 5th at the National Assembly Press Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, requesting emergency COVID-19 living support.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-Young Hwang] Former Blue House officials from the Moon Jae-in administration are passing the Democratic Party primaries and consecutively joining the main election lineup.

Among 26 former Blue House officials who participated in the Democratic Party primaries held up to the 5th round, 15 passed the primaries.

Although 9 out of 12 candidates won by the 3rd round, showing unstoppable momentum, many candidates were eliminated in the 4th and 5th rounds.

In the 4th round, only 1 out of 5 candidates won, and in the 5th round, 5 out of 9 candidates secured tickets to the main election.

Including former spokesperson Go Min-jung, who was strategically nominated in Seoul Gwangjin-eul, and 11 Blue House officials who were nominated as sole candidates without primaries, the total number of Blue House officials nominated is 11.

As of the 10th, the total number of former Blue House officials who received nomination tickets for the general election has reached 26.

In the Democratic Party's 5th primary, the contest between former Blue House secretaries and administrative officers drew attention in Gwangju Gwangsan-gap, where former administrative officer Park Si-jong caused an upset by defeating former social coordination secretary Min Hyung-bae, a two-term Gwangsan District mayor.

Former administrative officers Yoon Young-deok in Gwangju Dongnam-gap, Kim Tae-seon in Ulsan Dong-gu, Park Sang-hyuk in Gyeonggi Gimpo-eul, and Moon Jeong-bok in Gyeonggi Siheung-gap also won their primaries and advanced to the main election.

However, former administrative officer Kim Bin in Seoul Mapo-gap lost to Representative Roh Woong-rae, and former administrative officer Lee Hong-young in Gyeonggi Yongin-byeong was defeated by first-term proportional representative Jeong Chun-sook.

In Jeonbuk Jeonju-gap, former civil society secretary Kim Geum-ok was defeated by former Representative Kim Yoon-duk.

Earlier, in the 4th primary, only former agriculture and fisheries secretary Shin Jeong-hoon, who ran in Jeonnam Naju-Hwasun, won.

Other former Blue House officials failed to overcome the high barriers posed by incumbent lawmakers.

Former Chunchoogwan director Yoo Song-hwa, who ran in Seoul Nowon-gap, lost to incumbent Representative Ko Yong-jin, and former social innovation secretary Kim Sung-jin was defeated by Representative Kim Byung-gi in Seoul Dongjak-gap.

In Jeonnam Yeongam-Muan-Shinan, former senior administrative officer Baek Jae-wook lost to first-term Representative Seo Sam-seok.

In Seoul Gangbuk-gap, former culture secretary Nam Yo-won was defeated by candidate Cheon Jun-ho, who served as chief secretary to former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.