New Variable Emerges in Seoul Gangdong-gu Mayor Election... Lee Jeong-hoon Urgently Proposes Unification with Yang Jun-wook (Comprehensive)

Independent Candidate Lee Jeong-hoon for Gangdong-gu Office Urgently Proposes 'Unified Polling Method' to Democratic Party Candidate Yang Jun-wook on 17th... Yang Jun-wook Rejects, Saying "Democratic Party Strictly Selected Me as Candidate, So Lee's Unilateral Proposal Is Inappropriate" in Phone Call with Reporters

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On June 1, the upcoming local elections, Lee Jeong-hoon, the current Gangdong-gu mayor who has confirmed his independent candidacy, proposed candidate unification through a public opinion poll method to Yang Jun-wook, the Democratic Party candidate, on the 17th.

Lee stated on the day, "To prevent division within the democratic reform camp and to avoid the district administration regressing to the past, we should unify candidates as soon as possible. We will form a working group within this week and complete the unification before early voting begins on May 27."

This development introduces a new variable in the Gangdong-gu mayoral race. Lee left the Democratic Party last year. Subsequently, Yang Jun-wook, former Seoul Metropolitan Council chairman who had competed against Lee four years ago and lost, was selected as the Democratic Party candidate for Gangdong-gu mayor.

Until now, the race was a three-way contest among Yang, Lee Soo-hee of the People Power Party, and independent Lee Jeong-hoon, but the unification variable has emerged, drawing attention to Yang’s response.

Lee’s proposal for unification through a public opinion poll to Yang is analyzed as a strategic move to leverage his position as the incumbent mayor to secure an advantageous position in the unification process. Yang’s camp is now in a difficult position, finding it hard to either accept or reject Lee’s proposal.

Meanwhile, Yang Jun-wook called reporters to rebut, saying, "It is not right for someone who is not even a party member to unilaterally propose unification to a person who was selected as the candidate through strict screening by the Democratic Party."