Mayor Park's Sudden Death... Expanded By-election Scope

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Following the downfall of former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and the sudden death of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, the scale of the by-elections scheduled for April next year has expanded. Given that these elections could indicate the direction of the next presidential election, their importance and significance are growing even more. The ruling Democratic Party is also facing deeper concerns regarding candidate nominations amid the vacancies.

According to the Public Official Election Act on the 10th, by-elections for members of the National Assembly, local council members, and heads of local governments are to be held on the first Wednesday of April. Accordingly, the by-elections are expected to take place on April 7 next year, which is less than nine months away.

Following the vacancy in the Busan mayoral office and the death of Mayor Park, the Democratic Party’s dilemma over candidate nominations has deepened. This is because the party cannot be free from responsibility for the vacancies. Within the party, opinions are divided on whether to nominate a candidate for the Busan mayoral by-election. Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don resigned amid a 'Me too' scandal.

Article 96, Paragraph 2 of the Democratic Party’s constitution states, "If an elected official belonging to the party loses their position due to serious misconduct such as corruption, and a re-election or by-election is held, the party shall not recommend a candidate for the relevant electoral district." This regulation has been applied to basic councilor elections for five years since its revision in 2015.

Kim Boo-kyum, a candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, expressed a stance opposing nomination at his campaign launch event the day before, saying, "I believe the party constitution must be upheld," and added, "While I will listen to various concerns within the party organizations, the promises we made to the people should not be interpreted conveniently."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, there is also a considerable faction supporting nominations, as evidenced by Kim Young-choon, Secretary-General of the National Assembly, and Byun Sung-wan, Deputy Mayor of Busan, being mentioned as potential ruling party candidates.

That said, the situation regarding the Seoul mayoral office differs somewhat from the Busan case. Although Mayor Park was accused of sexual harassment, he has already passed away, making it highly likely that the case will be concluded as "no prosecution." Legally, there is no way to investigate Mayor Park’s misconduct. Applying the party constitution to unconfirmed charges is somewhat ambiguous.

The weight of the Seoul mayoral position is greater than that of other local government heads, and it is regarded as a stepping stone to the presidential election, attracting many ruling party figures eager to run. The election campaign resembles a presidential race. This means the Democratic Party cannot simply maintain a no-nomination stance without considering these factors.

Moreover, other metropolitan governors are also on trial, and depending on the outcomes, the number of by-election districts could increase, further complicating the Democratic Party’s dilemma. Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, involved in a case related to the forced hospitalization of his elder brother, was fined 3 million won in the second trial, a penalty that invalidates his election, and is awaiting the Supreme Court’s final judgment. Governor Kim Kyung-soo of South Gyeongsang Province was found guilty in the first trial related to the Druking presidential election manipulation case and is currently appealing.

Above all, next year’s by-elections hold significant meaning as they will be held one year before the presidential election and could indicate the direction of the presidency. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the United Future Party, said on the day, "We must hold a major election in April next year. If we consider the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections in April next year, and possibly other elections, it should be an election comparable to the presidential election."