Narrowed Down from 14 to 3 Candidates... Nomination Method Undecided
"3 Candidates Allowed to Register as Preliminary Candidates by Election Commission"
The Democratic Party of Korea has shortlisted three candidates for the Seoul Gangseo District Mayor by-election scheduled for the 11th of next month: Moon Hong-seon, an invited professor at Seokyeong University; Jeong Chun-saeng, former Blue House Secretary for Women and Family Affairs; and Jin Gyo-hoon, former Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency.
On the 30th, Han Byung-do, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Strategic Planning Committee, met with reporters after an on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Jeonnam Provincial Party Office in Muan, Jeonnam, stating, "The Nomination Management Committee has held three meetings so far and conducted multifaceted evaluations including document interviews and local inspections on a total of 14 candidates who applied for the nomination. We have initially narrowed down the 14 candidates to three and decided to continue further screening."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Office in Samhyang-eup, Muan-gun, Jeonnam, on the morning of the 30th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Candidate Moon Hong-seon is currently an invited professor in the Department of Urban Engineering at Seokyeong University and previously served as Deputy Mayor of Gangseo District Office. Candidate Jeong Chun-saeng served as a Blue House Secretary during President Moon Jae-in’s administration and was the head of the Democratic Party’s Central Public Relations Bureau. Candidate Jin Gyo-hoon is a former Chief of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency and also served as Deputy Commissioner at the National Police Agency headquarters.
Chairman Han added, "Given the significant weight and meaning of the Gangseo District Mayor election, we strictly evaluated the candidates’ criminal records, morality, and disqualifications from the perspective of the public. We will allow the three candidates to register as preliminary candidates with the Election Commission."
He continued, "It has not yet been decided whether to make a single nomination, a strategic nomination, or to proceed with a 2-3 person primary. Since the election is on October 11, we will make decisions on the election schedule as the time approaches."
Earlier, the Democratic Party formed a Candidate Verification Committee last month and began screening 13 preliminary candidates who applied. Among the applicants were Jeong Chun-saeng, former Blue House Secretary for Women and Family Affairs, and Kwon Oh-jung, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Sejong City.
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