Dongjak, Lee Sujin-Nakyeongwon Big Match... Senior-Junior Judge Showdown

Democratic Party 4th Primary Announcement Shows Progress of Incumbent First-Term Lawmakers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The announcement of the results of the Democratic Party of Korea's 4th primary highlighted the rise of incumbent first-term lawmakers and the poor performance of former Blue House-affiliated candidates. However, Son Geum-ju, a former member of the People's Party, and Jeong Eun-hye, who entered the National Assembly just seven months before her term ended, were not nominated. The Democratic Party decided on April 4 to strategically nominate former judge Lee Soo-jin for the Dongjak-eul constituency in Seoul. As a result, a 'battle between former judges of senior and junior ranks' was set up in Dongjak-eul against Na Kyung-won of the United Future Party, a female legal professional.

The Democratic Party's Central Election Commission announced the results of primaries for 13 constituencies on the 3rd. Among the 13 confirmed nominees announced that day, five are incumbent first-term lawmakers: Ko Yong-jin (Nowon-gap, Seoul), Cho Eung-cheon (Namyangju-gap, Gyeonggi), Kim Byung-gi (Dongjak-gap, Seoul), Lee Jae-jung (Anyang Dongan-eul, Gyeonggi - proportional representation), and Seo Sam-seok (Yeongam-Muan-Shinan, Jeonnam). On the other hand, former Blue House-affiliated candidates struggled. Yoo Song-hwa, former Blue House Press Secretary, lost to Ko Yong-jin, and Kim Sung-jin, former Blue House Secretary for Social Innovation, was defeated by Kim Byung-gi.

However, first-term incumbent Son Geum-ju (Naju-Hwasun, Jeonnam) was defeated by Shin Jeong-hoon, former Blue House Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries. This outcome was somewhat expected both inside and outside the party. Son applied to join the Democratic Party in December 2018, but the party rejected her, citing her past criticism of the Democratic Party during her time as spokesperson for the People's Party as 'activities inconsistent with the party's platform and policies.' Jeong Eun-hye (Bucheon Ojeong - proportional representation), who began her term in October last year as the successor to Lee Soo-hyuk, Ambassador to the U.S., near the end of the 20th National Assembly, was also defeated by former Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member Seo Young-seok.

Former lawmaker Kim Seung-nam (Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, Gangjin) will face a rematch against Hwang Ju-hong of the Minsaeng Party after four years. Additionally, former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's secretary-general Cheon Jun-ho (Gangbuk-gap, Seoul), former Consul at the Shanghai Consulate General Seo Dong-wook (Dongducheon-Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi), former Deputy Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do Jeong Jeong-sun (Cheongju Sangdang, Chungbuk), and former regional chairman Kim Ki-woon (Changwon Uichang, Gyeongnam) also secured nominations.

The regions announced in the primary results included areas where electoral districts were changed based on the redistricting criteria, sparking controversy. According to the redistricting plan, Nowon will be consolidated from three constituencies (Gap, Eul, Byeong) into two, and Jeonnam's Naju-Hwasun and Yeongam-Muan-Shinan will also be merged and adjusted. Ko Yong-jin argued, "The consolidation of Nowon districts is a decision that ignores the principles of the election law. It must be immediately withdrawn." Regarding this, Choi Un-yeol, chairman of the committee, said in a briefing immediately after the announcement of the final results, "If finalized, there might be a situation requiring a re-primary." He added, "There are three constituencies affected by the adjustment, and we debated whether to announce the results, but since the redistricting plan is not yet finalized, we decided to announce the primary results as they are."

Lee Su-jin, former chief judge

Besides nominating former Chief Judge Lee Soo-jin for Dongjak-eul, the Democratic Party also approved candidates for primaries in four strategic constituencies. In Wonju-gap, Gangwon Province, former Governor Lee Kwang-jae and former lawmaker Park Woo-soon will compete in the primary.

In Songpa-gap, Seoul, former lawmaker Moon Mi-ok and former Presidential Policy Planning Committee member Jo Jae-hee will face off. In Daedeok, Daejeon, three candidates?former Daejeon Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs Park Young-soon, former Daedeok District Party Chairman Park Jeong-rae, and former Blue House administrative officer Chae Dong-sik?will compete. In Cheonan-gap, Chungnam, former Secretary to the Governor Moon Jin-seok and former Cheonan City Council Chairman Jeon Jong-han will contest the primary.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to announce the results of the 5th primary on the 5th. Proportional representation candidate applications will be accepted until that day. Voting on the 130 applicants for proportional representation candidates is scheduled for the 6th, with final confirmation on the 7th.

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