- Ruling and Opposition Parties Launch Innovation Committee and Primary Preparation Committee to Accelerate By-election Preparations
- Emerging Candidate Groups for Seoul and Busan Mayoral Elections
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] With the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections just six months away, both ruling and opposition parties have begun preparing for the primaries in their own ways, such as through 'Innovation Committees' and 'Primary Preparation Committees.' As a result, the outlines of the candidates from both parties are gradually emerging.
According to the Democratic Party on the 18th, they recently launched the '2020 The Innovation Committee' under the banners of 'Smart Party' and '100-Year Party.' While it is explained as an effort to improve the party's structure, political circles widely interpret this as the party entering full-scale organizational restructuring ahead of next year's by-elections.
Since this election is being held due to the Democratic Party's responsibility, the party has not yet publicly stated its position. However, within the party, there is a prevailing opinion to first face the judgment of the people, leading to speculation that they will eventually field a candidate.
Currently, among the Democratic Party's potential Seoul mayoral candidates, Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun is the most prominently mentioned. Minister Park boasts considerable weight within the party, having served as a four-term lawmaker, floor leader, and minister. Especially since the vacancy of the Seoul mayoral seat arose from sexual harassment allegations, she holds significant merit as a 'female candidate.'
Four-term lawmaker and former floor leader Woo Sang-ho is also weighing a run. Earlier, he appeared on a radio show and said regarding his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election, "I am currently considering it," and added, "If the party's policy is decided, I will discuss with those around me and clearly state my position."
Additionally, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, lawmaker Park Joo-min who raised his profile by running for party leader, and lawmaker Park Yong-jin, known as the 'Samsung sniper,' are also mentioned as potential candidates.
For the Busan mayoral race, Kim Young-choon, Secretary-General of the National Assembly and former inaugural Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under the Moon Jae-in administration, is being floated as a candidate. He successfully secured a third term after moving his constituency to Busanjin-gap in the 20th general election, rising to the status of a major figure in the Busan region.
Former lawmaker Kim Hae-young, who earned the nickname 'Mr. Bitter Words' while serving as a Supreme Council member, is also mentioned as a candidate. Known for his outspoken views toward the party mainstream, he is evaluated as having the potential to appeal to moderate voters in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions.
The People Power Party's candidate outlines have become clearer as they completed the formation of their Primary Preparation Committee. Lawmaker Kim Seon-dong, serving as the party secretary-general, was an ex officio (vice-chairman) member of the committee, but after demands from inside and outside the party to clarify his intention regarding the Seoul mayoral candidacy, he resigned from both the secretary-general and vice-chairman positions.
Also, former lawmaker Ji Sang-wook, who heads the party's think tank Yeouido Institute and was supposed to be an ex officio member of the Primary Preparation Committee, voluntarily stepped down, and former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan also declined a seat on the committee. It is speculated that all of them intend to run as candidates rather than serve as 'referees.'
In addition, four-term lawmakers Kwon Young-se and Park Jin, as well as first-term lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, who attracted attention with a five-minute speech in the plenary session, are mentioned as Seoul mayoral candidates. Among non-incumbents, former lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Kim Yong-tae, and Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee are also listed as potential candidates.
There are some speculations that Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, might join the People Power Party and run for Seoul mayor, but since he is already considered a presidential candidate, the political consensus is that his chances of running in the by-election are low.
Regarding the Busan mayoral race, it is known that Seo Byung-soo, a five-term lawmaker and former Busan mayor, is considering reclaiming the position, and first-term lawmaker Kim Mi-ae is also mentioned as a candidate. Among non-incumbents, former lawmakers Yoo Jae-joong, Lee Jin-bok, Park Min-sik, Lee Eon-ju, and Park Hyung-joon are mentioned.
There have also been a series of withdrawal announcements. Former lawmaker Kim Se-yeon, who was considered the most likely candidate for Busan mayor, declared he would not run, and first-term lawmaker Park Soo-young expressed his intention not to run, saying, "Please stop mentioning me as a candidate for Busan mayor." Lawmaker Jang Je-won, who had been consistently mentioned as a candidate, also announced his withdrawal on the same day.
Meanwhile, criticism is growing within the People Power Party over Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in’s remark that "there is no suitable candidate for mayor." Former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Byung-joon of the Liberty Korea Party (now People Power Party) wrote on his Facebook regarding Kim’s comment, "If you really think so, you might as well close the door." He sharply criticized, "Doesn’t this read as an intention to render the primary meaningless, which involves participation from the people and party members, and instead unilaterally select and bring in someone? Where do you intend to take the party this way?"
Lawmaker Jang Je-won also criticized Chairman Kim on the same day, saying, "It’s really worrying that a person of the party leader’s stature behaves self-destructively wherever he goes," and added, "Instead of encouraging, he goes around campaigning for defeat. I don’t understand why the party leader has to stab the party internally to this extent."
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