Are the Matchups for Seoul District Mayors Becoming Clear?

Amid Democratic Single Nomination Areas (Seongdong Jung Wono, Jungnang Ryu Kyunggi, Nowon Oh Seungrok, Songpa Park Seongsu, Gangnam Jung Soongyun District Heads), People Power Party Confirmed Primary Candidates Including Jongno

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] With 43 days remaining until the June 1 local elections of the 8th term of the popular election, the outlines of Seoul district mayor candidates are gradually emerging.

The Democratic Party conducted interviews for 25 district mayor candidates on the 17th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In particular, current district mayors Seongdong's Jeong Won-oh, Jungnang's Ryu Kyung-gi, Nowon's Oh Seung-rok, Gangnam's Jeong Soon-gyun, and Songpa's Park Seong-su were interviewed as sole candidates, increasing their chances of receiving nominations.

Accordingly, the candidate pools for these five districts from both ruling and opposition parties are expected to gradually become clear.

The People Power Party Seoul City Party Nomination Management Committee held a meeting on the 16th to finalize nine primary election districts and candidates.

In Jongno District, former Jongno District Council Vice Chairman Lee Suk-yeon and former two-term National Assembly member Jeong Moon-heon will compete in a two-person primary, while in Seongdong District, An Seong-gyu, director of the Korea Peninsula Advancement Institute, and former Seoul City Council member Lee Joo-soo will face off in a two-person primary.

Thus, the Seongdong District mayoral election is expected to be a contest between Democratic Party incumbent Jeong Won-oh, who is aiming for a third term, and the winner of the preliminary between An Seong-gyu and Lee Joo-soo.

The Jungnang District mayoral election is anticipated to be a rematch between Democratic Party incumbent Ryu Kyung-gi and former district mayor Ra Jin-gu of the People Power Party.

The Dongdaemun District mayoral election will be a four-way race among Democratic Party candidates including current Seoul City Council Chairman Kim In-ho, former Dongdaemun Cultural Center Director Yoon Jong-il, former Prime Minister's Office Political Affairs Chief Ji Yong-ho, and former Blue House administrator Choi Dong-min. Meanwhile, the People Power Party will hold a primary among former Seoul City Council member Ko Jeong-gyun, former district council member Shin Hyun-soo, and former Liberty Korea Party Dongdaemun district committee chairman Lee Yun-woo.

In Gangbuk District, a three-person primary will be held among Park Jin-eung, Bae Bong-su, and Lee Seong-hee, while in Dobong District, a three-person primary will be held among former People Power Party Seoul City Party deputy spokesperson Oh Eun-seok, former Liberty Korea Party Dobong District Gap committee chairman Lee Jae-beom, and former Hannara Party deputy spokesperson Jang Il.

In Nowon District, a three-person primary will be held among former Seoul City Council members Kim Kwang-soo and Yoo Cheong, and former Nowon District council member Lim Jae-hyuk.

Kim Kwang-soo and Yoo Cheong were formerly members of the Democratic Party but changed their party affiliation to the People Power Party after joining Representative Ahn Cheol-soo.

Accordingly, if one of these two becomes the People Power Party candidate for Nowon District mayor, a final competition is expected between the current mayor Oh Seung-rok and the Democratic Party-affiliated candidate.

In Eunpyeong District, a three-person primary has been confirmed among former Eunpyeong District council member Nam Ki-jung, former Blue House senior administrator Choi Hong-jae, and former Blue House administrator Hong In-jung.

In Dongjak District, a three-person primary will be held among Kim Sook-hyang, People Power Party Central Women's Committee Chair, former Wonju Regional Land Management Office Director Park Il-ha, and former Seoul City Council member Jang Hwan-jin.

In Gwanak District, a two-person primary will be held between former district council chair Lee Seong-sim and former Seoul City Council member Lee Haeng-ja to finalize the candidate.

Both former chair Lee and former council member Lee are also from the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party candidates who were interviewed include current district mayor Park Jun-hee, Heo Gi-hoe, and former Seoul City Council member Shin Eon-geun.

The Democratic Party plans to announce sole and primary candidates on the 19th, while the People Power Party is also expected to finalize and announce its primary candidates this week.