[Jungkook Spotlight] 'Early Presidential Election Gauge' April 2 By-election and Re-election

By-elections and Re-elections Begin Nationwide in Seoul, Busan, Chungcheong, Yeongnam, and Honam
Candidate Registration Closes on the 14th for All 23 Contests

The April 2nd by-elections and re-elections held in Seoul, Busan, Chungcheong, Yeongnam, Honam, and other regions have officially begun. This by-election is expected to serve as a barometer of public sentiment, as the early presidential election has become more likely due to the presidential impeachment crisis, and it offers a glimpse into the landscape of next year’s local elections.

On April 13, ahead of the Busan Superintendent of Education re-election on April 2, staff members are changing the numbers on a sculpture at the entrance of the Busan Election Commission in Yeonje-gu, Busan, to indicate the remaining election period. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the National Election Commission on the 14th, as of 10 a.m. that day, a total of 61 candidates had completed registration for the April 2nd by-elections and re-elections. Candidate registration for this by-election will close at 6 p.m. on the 14th. Early voting will take place on March 28-29, and the main voting will be held on April 2 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Typically, voter turnout in by-elections and re-elections is lower than in general or presidential elections. While low turnout is often considered advantageous to conservative parties, there is also a significant view that the situation is different this time due to the December 3rd emergency martial law variable.

The Busan Superintendent of Education re-election has been narrowed down to a competition among one progressive candidate and two moderate conservative candidates after a unification process within the progressive and conservative camps. Kim Seok-jun, former Busan Superintendent of Education from the progressive camp, and Choi Yoon-hong, former acting superintendent from the moderate conservative camp, completed their candidate registrations on the first day, the 13th. Another moderate conservative candidate, Jeong Seung-yoon, former professor at Busan National University Law School, is also expected to register on the same day.

Busan’s voting trend was dominated by the conservative camp, as evidenced by the People Power Party’s landslide victory in last year’s 22nd general election. However, the Busan Superintendent of Education election started with a split in the conservative camp, and it is noteworthy that candidate Kim Seok-jun has prior experience winning the Busan Superintendent of Education position.

The elections for heads of basic local governments in Seoul’s Guro District, Asan City in Chungnam, Damyang County in Jeonnam, Gimcheon City in Gyeongbuk, and Geoje City in Gyeongnam are also of interest. Except for Damyang County, the other regions are areas that the People Power Party must defend. However, except for Gimcheon, the situation is challenging.

The Geoje mayoral re-election is a three-way race among the People Power Party, the Democratic Party of Korea, and an independent candidate. The re-election is being held because former Geoje Mayor Park Jong-woo of the People Power Party was disqualified by the Supreme Court due to a violation of the Public Official Election Act. Geoje is the constituency of Seo Il-jun, a ‘Yunhaekgwan’ who served as chief of staff to presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl in the 2022 presidential election. The Democratic Party nominated former Geoje Mayor Byun Gwang-yong through a primary. Geoje is also the hometown of former President Moon Jae-in.

The Guro District mayoral election is being held again after the incumbent, a ruling party figure and former entrepreneur who won in the 2022 local elections, resigned following a lawsuit loss over the ‘stock blind trust refusal’ related to the company he founded. Four candidates are competing: one each from the People Power Party and the Democratic Party, and two independents. This election is an opportunity to gauge Seoul’s voting sentiment since last year’s general election.

In the Gimcheon mayoral election, Democratic Party candidate Hwang Tae-seong, People Power Party candidate Bae Nak-ho, and independents Lee Seon-myeong and Lee Chang-jae have completed their registrations. In the Damyang County mayoral re-election, held due to the disqualification of former county head Lee Byung-no, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-jong, a former Blue House administrator, and Jeong Cheol-won, chairman of the Damyang County Council from the Innovation Party, are competing. Lee Jae-jong’s connection to former President Moon Jae-in makes the Damyang mayoral election results a focus of political attention. Reporter Moon Hye-won