At Least Four Parties, Including the Democratic Party, People Power Party, Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and Reform New Party, Expected to Field Candidates
Ruling Party Plans to Replace Some Incumbents, While Opposition Focuses on Recruiting New Talent
With the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections scheduled for June next year, there is growing attention on whether current members of the Sejong City Council will run for office. Since local councilors affiliated with political parties can only run if they receive a party nomination, they cannot run if their party does not nominate them, regardless of their personal intentions. Unless they leave their party and run as independents before the party makes its decision, it becomes impossible for them to run.
Currently, the Sejong City Council consists of 20 seats, including proportional representation. Of these, 13 seats are held by the Democratic Party of Korea and 7 by the People Power Party. However, after Democratic Party councilor Sang Byungheon became involved in a criminal case and was sentenced to prison in the first trial in September this year, he submitted his resignation, reducing the Democratic Party's seats to 12, and bringing the current total number of council members to 19.
Among them, the only two-term councilors are Lim Chaeseong and Lee Sunyeol, both of whom began as first-term members. All multi-term councilors belong to the Democratic Party of Korea. Therefore, attention is focused on whether first-term councilors will seek a second term and whether two-term councilors will run for a third term.
According to local political circles, all currently serving councilors are expected to run in the local elections. In an interview with a reporter, one first-term councilor said, "A four-year term is too short to fully understand and realize politics for the citizens," adding, "Having gained some understanding during my first term, I want to run for a second term to have more time to accomplish something."
The positions of each party are also drawing attention. It has been confirmed that the Democratic Party of Korea has different plans from the wishes of the current councilors. As the Democratic Party holds a majority in the local political scene, more than half of the incumbent councilors are reportedly subject to being cut off from the nomination process, including through strategic nominations that deny them the chance to compete in primaries.
A party official stated, "Nothing has been decided yet, but there will be significant changes," and added, "We will hold a winning election through practical nominations." From the party's perspective, having regained power and enjoying strong popularity in the local community, this is seen as an opportunity to give more talented individuals interested in local politics a chance to run.
In the 2022 local elections, the People Power Party received 48.50% of party support, surpassing the Democratic Party of Korea's 45.79%. The seven incumbent People Power Party councilors are considered highly likely to run for a second term. However, primaries are expected to take place between candidates in some constituencies. For the remaining 13 seats, new political figures are expected to run. Jeong Woojin, Chief Secretary to Sejong Mayor Choi Minho, is also being mentioned as a potential candidate for a constituency seat.
Additionally, with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the Reform New Party also confirmed to field candidates, a significant number of party candidates will be competing, which is likely to split the vote between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party. In this situation, even candidates who do not secure a large number of votes may have a greater chance of being elected. In short, next year's local elections are expected to be highly competitive, with every vote counting.
Furthermore, variables may arise if the current number of council seats is increased, or depending on the results of the constituency adjustment committee, which are expected to be announced as early as the end of this month or the beginning of next month.
List of 19 active Sejong City Council members. /In alphabetical order/ Screenshot from Sejong City Council website
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