'Seoul Mayor Candidate' People Power Party Faces Recruitment Difficulties... Will Kim Jong-in Find a Solution Over Dinner?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The People Power Party is facing a shortage of candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election. Although they have prepared thoroughly to run a winning campaign and even launched a primary preparation organization early on, there are hardly any candidates showing a willingness to run. This contrasts with the Democratic Party, which has completed groundwork to field candidates and is gradually mentioning strong contenders.

On the 2nd, when it became known that Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in would have dinner with current and former Seoul-area lawmakers, immediate speculation arose that it was to inquire about their intention to run, reflecting the reality that the People Power Party lacks candidates willing to step forward. It is reported that lawmakers Kwon Young-se, Park Jin, former lawmakers Kim Yong-tae, Na Kyung-won, Lee Hye-hoon, and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will attend this dinner.

Chairman Kim told reporters right after the Emergency Response Committee meeting that morning, regarding the nature of the dinner, "I intend to meet with senior regional chairpersons to hear their opinions on election strategies." However, when asked if those attending were being considered as Seoul mayoral candidates, he drew a line by saying, "Those attending today are regional chairpersons from Seoul," and "I do not think any particular person has been designated as a candidate."

Unlike the Busan mayoral by-election, where candidates are becoming clearer, the Seoul mayoral race remains in the dark. Although many names are mentioned, aside from former Secretary-General Kim Seon-dong stepping down from his position and effectively expressing his intention to run, all others remain speculative. The party aims to finalize primary rules swiftly by mid-month, but no candidates have yet emerged to enter the race.

The People Power Party also faced a shortage of candidates for the Seoul mayoral election two years ago during its time as the Liberty Korea Party. At that time, President Moon Jae-in’s approval ratings were steady, and expectations were high for the first summit between President Moon and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, so no one was willing to step forward. When well-known figures rejected recruitment offers, the Liberty Korea Party ultimately endorsed former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo as their candidate.

This time, the party evaluates that the election conditions are better than two years ago. The by-election was triggered by the Democratic Party’s mistakes, and dissatisfaction with the Moon administration’s real estate policies is growing, especially in Seoul. Nevertheless, the party still faces a shortage of candidates because there is no suitable candidate who can attract moderate voters, and with the presidential election one year away, the attention of major contenders is divided.

Inside and outside the party, there are hopes that presidential hopefuls such as Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, or former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min will step in as "relief pitchers," considering their name recognition and competitiveness. However, in Yoo’s case, it is widely expected that he will officially launch his presidential bid following the opening of the political culture platform "How's" by the 'Yoo Seung-min faction' lawmakers in Yeouido. Ahn has also repeatedly expressed in media interviews his intention to bypass the by-election and head straight to the presidential race.

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