The printing of ballots has started, but unification is drifting apart

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] With the printing of ballots for the April 15 general election underway, the unification among candidates in this election has effectively concluded. Although unification after ballot printing is possible, the effect is limited because withdrawn candidates are still printed on the ballots. Unlike the previous election, unification was slower among the ruling coalition including the Democratic Party and the Justice Party, while the opposition such as the United Future Party succeeded in unifying candidates in many constituencies.

According to political circles on the 6th, unification efforts failed in all three constituencies where it was actively discussed: Changwon Seongsan, Yeonsu-eul, and Goyang-gap. Justice Party candidate Yeo Young-guk, who won the by-election last year through unification, appealed to local residents in a message stating, "The candidate unification failed due to the Democratic Party (candidate Lee Heung-seok)'s refusal," and urged, "Please protect Changwon Seongsan through citizen unification." The Lee Heung-seok campaign reportedly rejected the unification proposal, saying, "The Democratic Party has been conceding for 20 years."

Unification also failed in Incheon Yeonsu-eul, where Democratic candidate Jeong Il-young and Justice Party candidate Lee Jeong-mi ran, and in Gyeonggi Goyang-gap, where Democratic candidate Moon Myeong-soon and Justice Party candidate Shim Sang-jung ran. In Mokpo, where Democratic candidates Kim Won-i and Park Ji-won are competing, Justice Party floor leader Yoon So-ha is determined to complete the race.

A political insider said, "Due to the impact of the proportional representation coalition party, unification among ruling coalition candidates has become difficult in this election," adding, "In previous elections, unification between Democratic and Justice Party candidates was easier because voters could vote for the Democratic candidate in the constituency and the Justice Party candidate in proportional representation."

The Democratic Party also failed to unify with candidates who left the party and ran as independents. Min Byung-doo, who ran in Dongdaemun-gu-eul after leaving the party in protest of the nomination process, and Moon Seok-gyun, who ran in Uijeongbu-gap, are continuing their races against Democratic candidates.

On the other hand, unification was relatively smooth in the conservative camp including the United Future Party. In Cheongju Heungdeok, Kim Yang-hee, who left the party in protest of the sole nomination of United Future Party candidate Jeong Woo-taek and ran as an independent, withdrew. In Cheonan, Chungnam, former Army General Park Chan-joo, who was excluded from the United Future Party nomination and ran as an independent, also withdrew. In Daegu Suseong-gap, United Future Party candidate Joo Ho-young unified with independent candidate Lee Jin-hoon after the latter withdrew. In Gyeonggi Paju-gap, Go Jun-ho, who declared an independent run in protest of the strategic nomination of Shin Bo-ra, decided not to run. In Incheon Seo-eul, United Future Party candidate Park Jong-jin and independent candidate Lee Haeng-sook agreed to unify through a primary.

However, unification failed between United Future Party candidate Kim Yong-tae and independent candidate Kang Yo-sik in Seoul Guro-eul, and between Lee In-seon and Hong Jun-pyo, both independents, in Daegu Suseong. In Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul, where conservative votes are split between candidate Park Yong-chan and independent Lee Jeong-hyun, Lee Jeong-hyun has expressed determination to continue, indicating unification is unlikely.

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