[22nd General Election] Jeonnam Yeongam·Muan·Shinan Candidate Lineup Complete

Seosamsok, Hwang Dunam, Yoon Busik, Kim Palbong, Baek Jaewook Five-Way Race

Three-Term Bid by Seosamsok and Baek Jaewook’s Third Challenge Expected to Be a Fierce Battle

In the April 10 general election for the Yeongam·Muan·Sinan constituency in Jeonnam, the ruling Democratic Party candidate Seo Samsuk faces challenges from Hwang Dunam of the People Power Party, Yoon Busik of the Progressive Party, Kim Palbong of the Korea Farmers and Fishermen Party, and independent candidate Baek Jaewook, with voters set to deliver their verdict on April 10.

(From left) Seo Samsuk of the Democratic Party of Korea, Hwang Dunam of the People Power Party, Yoon Busik of the Progressive Party, Kim Palbong of the Korea Farmers and Fishermen Party, Baek Jaewook, Independent

Incumbent National Assembly member Seo Samsuk, a former three-term Muan County governor, won a by-election for the Yeongam·Muan·Sinan seat in 2018 and secured re-election, now aiming for a third term.

He has held key party positions such as Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee and Senior Deputy Secretary-General, and currently serves as Chair of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, enhancing his stature as a leading politician representing Honam.

Hwang Dunam of the People Power Party, former head of the Yeongam·Muan·Sinan district committee, hails from Bigeum-myeon, Sinan County. In the 1998 2nd nationwide local elections, he ran as an independent candidate for Sinan County Council and was elected.

In the 2006 4th nationwide local elections, he ran as a Democratic Party candidate for Sinan County Council and won. Subsequently, he ran twice as an independent for the provincial assembly and once for the county council but was defeated.

Progressive Party candidate Yoon Busik graduated from Gangjin High School and Mokpo National University, began as a field worker at Daebul Industrial Complex, and has served as the current head of the Jeonnam branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. He has also been co-representative of the Jeonnam Farmers’ Allowance Ordinance Movement Headquarters and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Action against Japan’s Radioactive Water Dumping, and currently serves as co-chair of the Progressive Party for Yeongam, Muan, and Sinan counties.

Kim Palbong of the Korea Farmers and Fishermen Party, originally from Illo-eup, completed doctoral coursework in law at Soongsil University Graduate School. His occupation is a care worker, and his address is registered in Toegye-ro, Chuncheon City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Kim previously ran in the 8th Muan County governor election.

Independent candidate Baek Jaewook, former senior administrative officer at the Blue House, served nearly 30 years as a party official including as deputy secretary-general for the Democratic Party. Having run three times for the National Assembly, he has built considerable recognition. After failing to pass the Democratic Party’s candidate screening, he decided to run as an independent and is considered the strongest competitor to three-term candidate Seo Samsuk.

The 22nd National Assembly election held on April 10 will follow this schedule: voter registration from March 19 to 23, candidate registration on March 21 and 22, election campaign period starting March 28, early voting on April 5 and 6, voting on April 10 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed immediately by vote counting after polls close.