Will the People Power Party's Seoul Gangnam, Seocho, and Jungnang District Mayor Candidates Proceed to Primaries?

With 18 candidates confirmed including People Power Party's Seoul Jongno and Jung-gu district mayor candidates, 7 areas including Gangnam, Seocho, and Jungnang-gu remain without candidates... Calls for primaries intensify, spotlight on leadership's choice

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As of 8 a.m. on the 2nd, the People Power Party has not yet finalized candidates for seven district mayor positions, including Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Jungnang-gu.

This contrasts with the previous afternoon, when candidates for 18 district mayor positions, including Jongno, Jung-gu, Seongdong, and Gwangjin-gu, were confirmed and announced through a public opinion poll method.

This reflects a change from the original plan to nominate single candidates, moving instead toward a primary election atmosphere.

The People Power Party Seoul City Branch had planned a primary election among four candidates for the Gangnam-gu mayoral nomination: Seo Myeong-ok, Seong Jung-gi, Lee Seok-joo, and Lee Eun-jae, but sudden rumors of a single nomination caused strong backlash.

In particular, candidates Seong Jung-gi and Lee Seok-joo visited the National Assembly Press Center, stating, “Why is the four-person primary plan being reversed for any reason?” and insisted on holding the primary election.

Accordingly, the city branch reportedly added one more candidate and conducted interviews on the 30th of last month, increasing the likelihood of a primary election.

Along with Gangnam-gu, the Seocho-gu mayoral candidate selection is also experiencing significant internal conflict. Candidates Jeon Seong-su, Hwang In-sik, Yoo Jeong-hyun, and Jo So-hyun are running, but the proposal for a single candidate nomination has caused strong opposition from rival candidates.

Supporters of candidate Hwang In-sik have recently protested in front of the central party headquarters, demanding a primary election.

Additionally, in Jungnang-gu, it is reported that former district mayor Ra Jin-gu and former Konkuk University professor Ahn Hyung-jun are competing.

As such, the People Power Party is facing strong opposition from candidates and party members as some try to avoid the primary election process for Seoul district mayor candidates, and a conclusion is expected within two to three days.

An official stated, “If 18 district mayor candidates were selected through primaries, then holding primaries for the remaining seven candidates is the proper way to uphold democratic principles,” adding, “That would also improve public opinion toward the People Power Party.”

Meanwhile, Lee Chang-hak, former secretary-general of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, who ran for Jung-gu mayor but was eliminated in the public opinion poll primary, criticized, “Even in class president elections, results for the winner, runner-up, and other candidates are shown, so unilaterally announcing only the first-place candidate is incomprehensible.”