Three-Candidate Primary in Kimhae, Hometown of Late President Roh Moo-hyun... Democratic Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party Confirms Single Candidates in 8 Districts

Four Provincial Assembly Election Districts Confirmed for Primary... Changwon-si 4, Gimhae-si 4, Gimhae-si 8, Yangsan-si 4

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] As the candidates for mayor and county head of Gyeongnam who will run in the June 1 local elections are taking shape, the Gyeongnam Provincial Party announced the primary candidates on the 21st.

In Gimhae City, the frontline of the Nakdong River belt and the hometown of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, three candidates will compete in the primary. The primary candidates are former Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member Gong Yoon-kwon, former Gyeongnam Deputy Governor Park Seong-ho, and current Gimhae Mayor Heo Seong-gon.

According to the Democratic Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party, as of today, among the 18 cities and counties in the province, the candidates for heads of local governments have been confirmed as single candidates in a total of eight places.

The Democratic Party’s Candidate Recommendation Management Committee announced the confirmation of former Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member Jang Jong-ha as the candidate for Ham-an County head, and former Democratic Party Gyeongnam election committee spokesperson Kang Ki-tae as the candidate for Hadong County head.

On the 13th, the committee selected current Mayor Heo Seong-mu as the candidate for Changwon Mayor, current Mayor Kang Seok-ju for Tongyeong Mayor, and current Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong for Geoje Mayor.

On the same day, current county heads Jang Chung-nam and Baek Du-hyun were confirmed as candidates for Namhae County head and Goseong County head, respectively.

Additionally, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Society Hwang In-seong was selected as the candidate for Sacheon Mayor. The Sacheon mayoral position has been vacant since former Mayor Song Do-geun, who held the office since 2014, lost his position due to a violation of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The primary for Yangsan Mayor candidates includes current Yangsan Mayor Kim Il-kwon, Yangsan City Council member Park Jae-woo, and former Yangsan City Urban Construction Director Park Jong-seo.

Two regions considered crucial for the Democratic Party to retain have close ties with former and current Democratic presidents.

Gimhae City is the hometown and burial site of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun. Yangsan City is where President Moon Jae-in lived before his inauguration and where his new residence will be located after his retirement in May.

The committee plans to finalize the Jinju Mayor candidate after reviewing the primary results between Park Yang-hoo, an invited professor at Gyeongsang National University, and Han Kyung-ho, former acting governor of Gyeongnam Province.

Except for the areas where the Democratic Party has decided on single candidates or primary contests, it is reported that it is difficult to even find candidates in the remaining seven cities and counties.

These seven areas, which have a strong conservative tendency and are almost barren ground for the Democratic Party, currently have no Democratic Party preliminary candidates.

Also, the committee announced the selection of primary candidates for four metropolitan council election districts on the same day.

In Changwon City’s 4th electoral district (Bansong-dong and Yongji-dong in Seongsan-gu), candidates Kim Young-jin and Kim Kyung-young will compete. In Gimhae City’s 4th electoral district (Jinyeong-eup and Hallim-myeon), candidates Kim Jong-geun and Kim Ho-dae will compete.

In Gimhae City’s 8th electoral district (Jangyu 3-dong), candidates Kim Young-hyun and Son Deok-sang will compete, and in Yangsan City’s 4th electoral district (Dong-myeon and Yangju-dong), candidates Park Mi-hae and Pyo Byeong-ho will compete.

The committee is expected to make the final decision within this month.