Democratic Party Nomination Final Stage... Incumbents Strong While Cheong Alumni Perform Well

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The Democratic Party's nomination process for the April 15 general election has entered its final stages. As initially expected, incumbent lawmakers showed strong performance, while former Blue House officials also made notable progress.

According to the Democratic Party on the 9th, as of the 8th, nominations for 220 out of the total 253 constituencies have been completed. This accounts for approximately 87%.

Although the 'system nomination' significantly reduced noise during the nomination process, the high survival rate of incumbents led to some criticism that personnel reform was somewhat insufficient.

In particular, the Democratic Party decided the previous day to nominate 30 incumbent lawmakers running in the metropolitan area as single candidates in their current constituencies. In Seoul, Hong Ik-pyo, who recently resigned from his position as chief spokesperson following controversy over his 'Daegu lockdown' remarks, was nominated as a single candidate in Jung-Seongdong Gap. Floor leader Lee In-young was nominated in Guro Gap, and Park Ju-min advanced to the general election in Eunpyeong Gap.

In Incheon, Hong Young-pyo was nominated in Bupyeong Eul, and Song Young-gil in Gyeyang Eul. In Gyeonggi Province, Kim Jin-pyo was nominated in Suwon Mu, securing an opportunity to run for a fifth term. Pro-Moon Jae-in (Pro-Moon Jae-in faction) key figure Jeon Hae-cheol was nominated as a single candidate in Ansan Sangnok Gap, and Democratic Party Secretary-General Yoon Ho-jung was also nominated as a single candidate in Guri.

Even Kim Jeong-ho, a lawmaker from Gyeongnam Gimhae Eul who was initially cut off, was saved by a decision from the party's Supreme Council the previous day. He will compete in a primary against former Military Manpower Administration chief Ki Chan-soo.

The 'incumbent premium' also proved its worth in the primaries. Eighteen incumbents (including proportional representatives) such as Kim Byung-gi, Park Kyung-mi, Lee Sang-min, Lee Sang-heon, Kim Byung-kwan, Lee Jae-jung, and Seol Hoon won their primaries and advanced.

Of course, there were also upsets where non-incumbents defeated incumbents. In Gyeonggi Anyang Dongan Gap, non-incumbent Min Byung-duk defeated incumbents Lee Seok-hyun (six-term) and Kwon Mi-hyuk (first-term proportional representative). In Jeonbuk Iksan Gap, non-incumbent Kim Soo-heung defeated incumbent Lee Chun-seok (three-term), becoming the protagonist of an upset. So far, nine incumbents have been defeated by non-incumbents.

Former Blue House officials from the Moon Jae-in administration, who attracted attention, did not reach the level of incumbents but achieved a 'half success' with a survival rate exceeding 50%.

Among 26 former Blue House officials who participated in the Democratic Party primaries up to the fifth round, 15 passed the primaries. Including 11 Blue House officials nominated as single candidates, a total of 26 former Blue House officials have received nomination tickets for the general election so far.

Looking at the details, in Gwangju Gwangsan Gap, which drew attention for the contest between former Blue House secretaries and administrative officers, former administrative officer Park Si-jong created an upset by defeating former social coordination secretary Min Hyung-bae, a two-term Gwangsan District mayor.

Four others?former administrative officer Yoon Young-deok in Gwangju Dongnam Gap, former administrative officer Kim Tae-seon in Ulsan Dong-gu, former administrative officer Park Sang-hyuk in Gyeonggi Gimpo Eul, and former senior administrative officer Moon Jeong-bok in Gyeonggi Siheung Gap?also won their primaries and advanced to the general election.

However, former administrative officer Kim Bin in Seoul Mapo Gap lost to lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, and former administrative officer Lee Hong-young in Gyeonggi Yongin Byeong lost to first-term proportional representative lawmaker Jung Chun-sook, experiencing the barrier of the 'incumbent premium.'

Additionally, former Chunchoogwan chief Yoo Song-hwa, who ran in Seoul Nowon Gap, was defeated by incumbent lawmaker Ko Yong-jin, and former social innovation secretary Kim Sung-jin was defeated by lawmaker Kim Byung-gi in Seoul Dongjak Gap, postponing their prospects for the future.