Democratic Party Candidates Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam Advance to Runoff in Damyang County By-election

Voting on the 7th and 8th... Key Factors: Vote Bonuses, Deductions, and Support from Eliminated Candidates
Lee: "Enriching Residents' Lives by Revitalizing the Local Economy"
Choi: "Five Major Pledges for Regional Development, Including a Prosperous Rural Community"

In the Jeonnam Damyang County Governor by-election Democratic Party primary runoff, preliminary candidates Jaejong Lee (left in the photo) and Hwasam Choi.

The Democratic Party’s candidate for the by-election for Damyang County Governor in Jeonnam is expected to be decided through a runoff vote between Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam (in order of ballot number), as no candidate secured a majority in the first round of the primary.

According to the Democratic Party's Central Election Management Committee on the 3rd, the results of the national primary, which was conducted from the 28th of last month to the previous day with 50% party members and 50% general public participation, led to the selection of Lee Jaejong, former Blue House administrator under the Moon Jaein administration (49), and Choi Hwasam, chairman of Damyang Saemaeul Geumgo (71), as the final two candidates. The runoff vote to determine the Democratic Party candidate is scheduled to take place on the 7th and 8th.

Previously, the Democratic Party confirmed five candidates for the primary: Kim Yongju, former head of the Damyang County Economic Department; Kim Jeongo, former Damyang County Council member; Kim Jongjin, vice chairman of the Democratic Party’s Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong regional committee; Lee Jaejong, former Blue House administrator; and Choi Hwasam, chairman of Damyang Saemaeul Geumgo. The primary was conducted over three days.

In this runoff vote, the key factors are expected to be the addition or subtraction of votes for each candidate and the direction of support from the supporters of eliminated candidates.

As a political newcomer, Lee will receive a 20% bonus on his vote count, while whether Choi will have votes deducted is a variable. There are conflicting opinions on whether Choi’s declaration of support for an independent candidate and departure from the party during the 2022 local elections constitutes grounds for a 25% deduction according to party regulations, or whether, since he did not run as an independent or as a candidate from another party and was reinstated as a talent recruitment case, he should not be subject to a penalty.

Additionally, the direction of support from the base of Lee Byeongno, the previous county governor; Choi Hyungsik, the former county governor who did not run in the primary; and Yoon Youngdeok, the former National Assembly member who withdrew his nomination early in the primary, is also expected to be a variable.

Meanwhile, in phone interviews with our paper, preliminary candidates Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam shared their determination for the upcoming runoff and their blueprints for regional development.

Preliminary candidate Lee Jaejong said, "I am grateful to the people of Damyang County and the Democratic Party members. I would like to offer my sincere consolation to the candidates who participated in the primary and thought deeply about Damyang’s development," adding, "I will frequently communicate with residents and party members to prepare for the runoff. Until the end, I will run with a humble heart, always grateful to the people of Damyang County and my fellow Democratic Party members."

Lee also emphasized, "I will create a region where everyone feels safe through comprehensive welfare and infrastructure expansion," and added, "By systematically fostering cultural and tourism resources and strengthening the competitiveness of agriculture and local industries, I will revitalize the local economy and enrich the lives of residents."

Preliminary candidate Choi Hwasam said, "It is my belief to conduct a clean election without money politics or negative campaigning," and added, "I will do my best in the runoff while communicating with residents and party members."

Choi also explained, "Recently, the issue of population decline has become prominent, and the reason is that young people are leaving the area. On the 4th, about 40 local youths will gather at our Damyang-eup campaign office to form the Damyang County Youth Policy Council. The purpose is for young people themselves to become the main agents of policy by participating not only in the formulation and discussion of youth policies but also in their implementation," and added, "In addition, I have presented the ‘Five Major Pledges for Damyang’s Development,’ including a special education district, a prosperous wealthy rural community, the Damyang transportation revolution, and the creation of a national rest area."