Next Week's Focus: Changwon-si Masanhwoewon Preliminary Candidate "Let's Unite Preliminary Candidates"

Cha Joomok, a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party in the Masanhwoeon-gu electoral district of Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, proposed unifying the primary candidates.

On the 23rd, Candidate Cha held a press conference at the provincial council briefing room and stated, "It is not easy for a political newcomer to compete against an incumbent who has been active in local legislative activities for over 10 years," adding, "For a political newcomer to face an incumbent, unification among newcomers is necessary."

Cha Joomok, a preliminary candidate for the National Assembly election from Masanhwoe District, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do, is holding a press conference at the Provincial Council.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

He said, "Even with bonus points in the primary, it is difficult for multiple political newcomers to defeat an incumbent," and added, "When a one-on-one contest is held through unification, it becomes a winnable match and increases party members' interest."

"I have proposed unification to the other two preliminary candidates in Masanhwoeon-gu and am waiting for their responses," he added, "While greeting voters, I have heard many opinions that unification among preliminary candidates is necessary."

Candidate Cha said, "If unification among the preliminary candidates in Masanhwoeon-gu is achieved, it will be the first case nationwide," and added, "If unification is modelled successfully in Masanhwoeon-gu, I think it will proceed in other electoral districts as well."

Masanhwoeon-gu, Changwon-si, is the electoral district of Yoon Han-hong, a key associate of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

Currently, former provincial council member Song Soon-ho of the Democratic Party, former Changwon city council member Jo Gap-ryeon of the People Power Party, former vice director of the Yeouido Research Institute Jo Cheong-rae, former central party secretary-general Cha Joomok, and Park Eun-young, Masan regional committee chair of the Progressive Party, have all declared their candidacy against Representative Yoon.