When Will the Damyang County Governor By-election Be Held?

Simultaneous Presidential and By-Election on May 9 Likely Amid Impeachment Proceedings
If Constitutional Court Rules After April 12, By-Election to Be Held on April 2
Democratic Party to Conduct 'Candidate Suitability' Poll in Early March
Kim Jeongo, Kim Jongjin, and Lee Jaejong Register as Preliminary Candidates

With the by-election for Damyang County Governor in Jeonnam scheduled for April 2, attention is focusing on the upcoming election schedule as it coincides with the possibility of an early presidential election. While the final election date will likely be determined by when the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the political sphere is already abuzz with speculation about a possible "May early presidential election."

According to local political circles on the 24th, the final hearing on President Yoon's impeachment is set for the 25th, raising expectations that the Constitutional Court's decision could come soon. Political insiders predict the court's ruling will be announced around the 10th or 11th of next month, before the 12th.

Moreover, some analysts believe the impeachment trial could conclude sooner than expected, as it is considered much simpler than the cases of former Presidents Roh Moo Hyun and Park Geun Hye. This is because there is no need to verify complicated facts, and the court is essentially only determining the issue of "unconstitutionality." In the Constitutional Court's previous impeachment trials, it took 14 days after the final hearing for former President Roh and 11 days for former President Park to reach a verdict.

Taking this into account, it is highly likely that the Constitutional Court will issue its final decision before the 12th of next month. If so, the Damyang County Governor by-election is expected to be held simultaneously with the early presidential election in May.

Some predict that if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment by March 12, following the final (11th) hearing on the 25th, the early presidential election on May 9 will coincide with the nationwide by-elections in the first half of the year. Candidate registration for the by-elections is expected to be on March 13.

Regarding this, an official from the Damyang Election Commission stated, "There is a possibility that the election schedule could be adjusted depending on the Constitutional Court's decision, but we are not making any preparations based on assumptions. For now, we are closely monitoring the court's decision."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced that all five candidates, except for former National Assembly member Yoon Youngdeok?who withdrew after submitting a nomination application for the 'April 2 Damyang County Governor by-election'?have passed the preliminary candidate eligibility screening.

The preliminary candidates are Kim Yongju, former Damyang County Economic Affairs Director; Kim Jeongo, former Damyang County Council member; Kim Jongjin, Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party's Damyang-Hampyeong-Yeonggwang-Jangseong Regional Committee; Lee Jaejong, former Blue House administrator; and Choi Hwasam, Chairman of Damyang Saemaeul Geumgo.

The Democratic Party plans to conduct a suitability poll, with 50% of the results coming from party members and 50% from county residents, and will immediately nominate the candidate who secures a majority. If no candidate exceeds 50%, the top two will proceed to a runoff.

Candidates Kim Jeongo, Kim Jongjin, and Lee Jaejong have completed their preliminary candidate registrations with the Damyang County Election Commission and are preparing for the election. On the afternoon of the 22nd, Kim Jeongo held an opening ceremony for the County Residents' Happiness Development Institute, while Lee Jaejong visited Damyang Market the same day to meet with local residents and merchants as he began his full-fledged campaign.