[Exclusive] 'Little Roh Moo-hyun' Kim Du-kwan Decides to Run in Yangsan, Site of Moon's Residence... Yoon Gun-young to Run in Guro-eul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Kim Du-gwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) from Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province, who is called the 'Little Roh Moo-hyun,' will run as a candidate in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, the constituency where President Moon Jae-in's private residence is located. For the Democratic Party, this presents an opportunity to rally support around a symbolic figure from the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (PK) region, where Kim previously served as governor of Gyeongnam Province. For Kim personally, it could be a chance to strengthen his position as the most prominent ruling party politician in the area. Of course, this is contingent on his victory.

There was also a movement to have former Blue House National Policy Planning Chief Yoon Gun-young run in Yangsan, but it was settled that he would run in Seoul Guro District, the constituency of Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups, who declared she would not run. In addition, the Democratic Party is accelerating its 'puzzle-solving' by conducting opinion polls on other figures such as Song Young-gil and former Gangwon Province Governor Lee Kwang-jae, who was recently pardoned.

On the 8th, a Democratic Party lawmaker said, "I understand that Kim Du-gwan has decided to run in Yangsan," adding, "He may run in Yangsan Eul, where Democratic Party member Seo Hyung-soo has decided not to run, or he may run in Yangsan Gap to challenge Yoon Young-seok of the Liberty Korea Party, who is seeking a third term. The decision on whether to run in Gap or Eul will be made in consultation with Kim."

Kim previously ran in a 2014 by-election in Gimpo but lost, then successfully entered the National Assembly in the general election four years ago. His career, which includes serving as a village chief and county governor in Namhae County and winning the governorship of Gyeongnam after two failed attempts, has drawn attention for resembling the path of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Regarding former Chief Yoon, there was also an internal push for him to run in Yangsan Eul, but he ultimately decided to run in Guro Eul. A Democratic Party official said, "The talk about Yoon running in Yangsan is over. For now, it is Guro Eul."

The PK region has been a weak area for the Democratic Party since the merger of the three parties under former President Kim Young-sam, but it made some gains in the 20th general election and currently has 10 incumbent lawmakers. In the 2018 local elections, the party swept the metropolitan governors of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam with support rates exceeding 50%. However, recent support for the Democratic Party in the PK region has hovered in the mid-30% range, leading some to speculate that enthusiasm may have cooled. Some suggest that the 'love call' for Kim stems from this sense of crisis.

The Democratic Party denies this. Kim Hae-young, a senior party official from Busan Yeonje, said, "Party support is higher than in the last general election," adding, "Although it cannot match the unusually high support seen in the local elections, it should be noted that this has long been a conservative stronghold."

The Democratic Party is reportedly conducting regional opinion polls on prominent figures. It is considering deploying four-term veteran Song Young-gil to Incheon Yeonsu Eul, the constituency of Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Min Kyung-wook, and former Governor Lee Kwang-jae to Seoul Gwangjin Eul, the constituency of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae. Opinion polls are also being conducted on Go Min-jung, the Blue House spokesperson who is contemplating running, and Kim Hong-gul, the third son of former President Kim Dae-jung and the standing chairman of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. It is also reported that former judge Lee Soo-jin, who exposed judicial corruption and is effectively a recruited figure, may run in Seoul Dongjak Eul against Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.