[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The competition among candidates for the by-election for the National Assembly member of Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam is fierce.
Park Wansu, the National Assembly member of Uichang-gu, was confirmed as the People Power Party's candidate for governor of Gyeongnam, and the by-election for the National Assembly member of Uichang-gu will be held on the same day as the local elections in June.
As it was announced that Representative Park would resign from his National Assembly seat on the 26th and start campaigning for the governor election, figures intending to run as candidates for the by-election in the district are lining up to declare their candidacy.
From the Democratic Party, former chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council Kim Jisoo has already expressed his intention to run, and former Changwon Mayor Gong Minbae, who has been requested to run by supporters, is also considering it.
From the People Power Party, following former National Assembly member Kim Youngseon, who served as the leader of the Grand National Party, Kim Hoyul, former secretary-general of the People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party, declared his candidacy on the 26th.
Former Gyeongnam Police Agency Chief and former Interpol President Kim Jongyang, as well as Jang Younggi, chairman of the Venture Business Association who served as the chairman of the Changwon City Election Headquarters for President-elect Yoon Seokyeol, are also expected to officially announce their candidacy soon.
Close aides of President-elect Yoon Seokyeol, such as former head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute Bae Seongbeom, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Lee Jooyoung who was excluded from the Gyeongnam governor nomination, and former Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member Jang Donghwa who lost in the Changwon mayoral primary, are also being considered.
Progressive parties such as the Justice Party are also scheduled to discuss their response to the by-election through a representative meeting soon.
Changwon Uichang-gu is known as a conservative stronghold where conservative candidates typically secure half of the votes and progressive candidates have never been elected, but there is no guarantee that an upset will not occur.
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