Democratic Party Finalizes 21 Proportional Candidates Including Kim Hong-gul and Lee So-hyun Through Nomination Review Panel Vote

On the 10th, marking the 4th anniversary of the Kaesong Industrial Complex closure, Kim Hong-gul, the standing representative of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, urged the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex at the "4th Anniversary of Kaesong Industrial Complex Closure, Joint Press Conference by Various Sectors Calling for Reopening," held near the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, hosted by the National Movement Headquarters for the Resumption of Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang Tourism and the Kaesong Industrial Complex Business Association. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea has finalized 21 proportional representation candidates in the general competition category through a vote by the National Nomination Review Committee.

On the afternoon of the 11th, Woo Sang-ho, Chair of the Democratic Party's Proportional Representation Recommendation Management Committee, held a briefing at the Yeouido party headquarters to announce that 21 candidates were confirmed out of 40 candidates in the general competition category based on the National Nomination Review Committee vote results.

The candidate list includes Lee Sohyun (37), an activist of 'Mothers in Politics' who lost her son Taeho in a traffic accident, Lee Sujin (50), a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, and Yang Jeongsuk (54), former non-standing commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission.

Also selected were Kang Kyungsuk (52), professor at Wonkwang University; Kim Nayeon (25), Hana Bank manager; Kim Hyunju (29), tax accountant; Park Myungsook (60), head of policy planning and international director at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association; Park Eunsu (25), vice chair of the National University Student Committee; and Baek Hyesuk (53), specialist at the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation.

Seo Gukhwa (35), co-representative of the animal rights research lawyer group PNR; Yang Kyungsuk (57), president of the Korea Fiscal Policy Institute; Lee Sangmi (52), government cooperation coordinator at UNICEF Korea; and lawyer Jeong Isu (38) were also named.

Kim Honggeol (56), eldest son of the late former President Kim Daejung and executive chair of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, was selected along with Kwon Jiwoong (32), honorary deputy mayor of Seoul for youth, and Kim Sangmin (48), vice chair of the National Farmers and Fishermen Committee.

Other candidates include Lee Kyungsoo (63), deputy secretary-general of ITER international organization; Lee Sangi (56), co-representative of the Welfare State Society; Jeon Yonggi (28), chair of the Democratic Party National University Student Committee; Jeong Woosik (51), full-time vice president of the Korea Solar Industry Association; and Choi Hoiyong (44), former representative of the Participatory Autonomy 21 Gwangju branch.

Among the Democratic Party's recruited talents, Vietnamese immigrant woman Won Okgeum, president of the Korean Vietnamese Residents Association, was eliminated, while activist Lee Sohyun and deputy secretary-general Lee Kyungsoo passed.

Chair Woo said, "People in their 20s and 30s showed absolute dominance," adding, "Young and fresh talents, contributions to party activities, and regional representation were all evenly reflected."

The order of the 25 proportional representation candidates, including 21 from the general competition category and 4 from the restricted competition category decided on this day, will be determined through a vote by the Democratic Party Central Committee on the 14th. Only the leadership, who must conduct the meeting, will attend the Central Committee vote held at the party headquarters on the 14th, while central committee members will participate online considering the COVID-19 situation.

Of the 817,037 eligible voters (789,868 party members and 27,169 general citizens), 179,415 (21.96%) participated in the National Nomination Review Committee vote held on the 10th and 11th.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that if the Democratic Party decides to participate in the pro-government proportional representation coalition party, it will not field independent proportional candidates but will dispatch Democratic Party proportional candidates to the coalition party. The Democratic Party will decide on participation in the proportional coalition party through a vote of all party members on the 12th.

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