Fierce Contest Between Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam
Democratic Party to Hold Runoff Vote on March 7-8
Results to Reflect 50% Party Members, 50% General Public
Alliances and Realignments Stir Up the Primary Race
Constitutional Court Ruling on Yoon's Impeachment May Affect Election Schedule
As the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate runoff for the Damyang County Governor by-election in Jeonnam is scheduled for the 7th and 8th, a fierce competition is unfolding between preliminary candidates Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam. The primary will be conducted in a citizen participation format, with 50% of the results reflecting party members and 50% reflecting the general public.
The key variable in this Democratic Party primary is expected to be the additional or deducted percentage applied to each candidate. As a political newcomer, Lee will receive a 20% bonus, while Choi, who has a history of leaving the party, will face a 25% deduction. Choi's camp argues that this is excessive, given his 45 years of service to the party and the fact that he was only out of the party for one year. They insist that to ensure a fair primary, deductions should be eliminated in the runoff.
Lee Jaejong, a preliminary candidate, is appealing for support while meeting a voter at Damyang Market. Photo by Lee Jaejong
The dynamics of the primary are also shifting. Alliances and realignments among candidates are causing significant turbulence in the race. Notably, former county governor Choi Hyungsik, who was expected to run, decided not to enter the race, and former lawmaker Yoon Youngdeok, who had registered as a candidate, voluntarily withdrew his candidacy.
Furthermore, following the elimination of preliminary candidates Kim Yongju and Kim Jeongo in the first round, former lawmaker Yoon Youngdeok has also officially expressed support for Lee Jaejong. In contrast, about 100 voters who supported Kim Jeongo during the Democratic Party primary visited Choi Hwasam's campaign office in the afternoon, declaring their support for Choi and criticizing Kim Jeongo for ignoring their opinions and betraying his supporters.
Some observers analyze these developments as a unique phenomenon resulting from the political calculations of the candidates and the alignment of interests and strategies among preliminary candidates seeking to secure immediate support ahead of the runoff.
In this primary, Lee Jaejong is appealing to county residents by highlighting his diverse experience in state affairs, including his role as a Blue House administrator during the Moon Jaein administration. Choi Hwasam, on the other hand, is emphasizing his three previous bids for the county governor position and his "third-time local candidate" theory, leveraging his high name recognition and clear positioning. The local atmosphere is a mix of expectations for the leading candidate, who has consistently topped opinion polls, and the possibility of a last-minute upset.
On the day before the runoff, both candidates are touring all towns and villages in the county, explaining their pledges and seeking support.
◇ Key Pledges by Candidate
Lee Jaejong, with the catchphrase "Our Strength Is Different," stated, "Based on my diverse experience and networks gained during my time at the Blue House, I will pour all the strength I have accumulated into Damyang. With the mindset that those who have learned should give back, I will demonstrate my unique ability to turn expectations into reality."
Lee's key pledges include: ▲ Prosperous and wealthy rural areas (innovation in agricultural and livestock product distribution) ▲ Adding AI smart technology to rural welfare ▲ Creating a national rest area ▲ Making Damyang a destination to stay ▲ Cultural Damyang ▲ Warm-hearted Damyang ▲ Competent Damyang, special education county ▲ Economically self-reliant Damyang.
Specific projects under these pledges include attracting private investment for large-scale infrastructure comparable to Everland, establishing the Damyang Arts Troupe, creating a sports park, and developing the Changpyeong Food Specialization Complex and Bongsan General Industrial Complex.
Choi Hwasam, with the catchphrase "Happy Residents, A Livable Damyang," emphasized, "Given the recent challenging domestic and international situation and economic downturn, restoring and growing the local economy will be my top priority. I will campaign under three core values for residents: a happy society, a sustainable future-oriented city, and grand integration of residents."
Preliminary candidate Choi Hwasam is appealing for support while talking with a merchant at Damyang Market. Photo by preliminary candidate Choi Hwasam
Choi's key pledges include: ▲ Realizing prosperous Damyang through new agriculture ▲ Inclusive welfare services ▲ Establishing large-scale distribution and logistics complexes ▲ Welcoming 10 million tourists ▲ Building a nature-friendly green city ▲ Realizing a lifelong learning city ▲ Creating a multi-purpose sports town for residents ▲ Forming the Damyang Youth Policy Council.
Specific projects include establishing a platform for domestic and foreign workers, piloting an integrated care center for people with disabilities, attracting a light rail line between Damyang and Gwangju Songjeong Station, developing tourist attractions tailored to local characteristics, and providing support funds for livelihood recovery.
◇ Tensions Over Pledges and Advance Knowledge of Runoff Date
As the runoff approaches, both camps are engaged in subtle tensions over similar pledges and advance knowledge of the runoff date.
Lee's camp expressed skepticism, saying that pledges should differentiate the candidates but are too similar. In response, Choi's camp dismissed the concern, saying that most of the pledges were created three years ago when he ran for county governor.
Choi's camp claimed that they only learned of the scheduled runoff date (the 7th and 8th) after the central party's announcement on the 5th, but Lee's camp had already known and spread the information to the media in advance. Choi's camp pointed out that Lee's press release on the 3rd already included the runoff date, raising reasonable suspicion of bias by the central party.
Regarding this, Lee's camp explained that the suspicion is groundless, as some media outlets had already reported the schedule on the 2nd, and anyone paying attention to the internal party process could have known as it was a routine procedure.
◇ Upcoming Election Schedule
The Damyang County Governor by-election in Jeonnam will be held together with the presidential election in May if the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment is delivered by the 12th. If the ruling is delivered after the 12th, candidate registration will take place on the 13th and 14th, early voting on the 28th and 29th, and the main vote on April 2nd.
An official from the Damyang County Election Commission explained, "If the impeachment is upheld by the 12th and a reason for the election arises due to a presidential vacancy, the by-election will be held within 60 days as stipulated by election law, and will be held simultaneously in May. If the impeachment is dismissed or rejected, the election will proceed as originally scheduled on April 2nd."
Meanwhile, the campaign spending limit for each candidate in the Damyang County Governor by-election is 144,587,388 won.
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