Opposition's Focus Now on Elections... More Seoul Candidates, Heated Competition in Busan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] As the filibuster (unlimited debate) period comes to an end, the focus of the People Power Party is shifting to the by-elections in April next year. While the legislative battle was ongoing, the number of candidates running for Seoul mayor has increased, and the competition among candidates in the Busan mayoral election has become fierce.

On the 15th, Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in took a step closer to election mode by apologizing for the mistakes of former presidents.

The number of candidates who have officially declared their intention to run for Seoul mayor has increased to five. Following former lawmakers Lee Hye-hoon and Kim Seon-dong, Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee, and former Songpa District Mayor Park Chun-hee, former lawmaker Lee Jong-gu declared his candidacy last weekend. Kim Geun-sik, head of the Songpa District party committee, who was encouraged to run by Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, is also weighing his candidacy.

Although the term for this by-election is only one year, both ruling and opposition parties are putting their lives on the line. This is because it strongly serves as a preliminary battle for the next presidential election to be held a year later. In particular, within the People Power Party, since they have suffered multiple defeats to the Democratic Party in Seoul elections, the outcome of the Seoul mayoral by-election is considered to be closely linked to the party's fate.

This is why there is still strong interest in whether well-known figures such as former floor leader Na Kyung-won, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and even former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min will run. Discussions were temporarily paused during the floor battle period, but once the election phase intensifies, demands within the party for a 'winnable candidate' may arise. Attention is also focused on whether first-term lawmakers who have distinguished themselves in floor activities will run.

In the Busan mayoral election, where five candidates have already declared their candidacy, tensions among candidates are heating up. Former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who is competing for first and second place in opinion polls, openly targeted former National Assembly Secretary-General Park Hyung-joon. Lee posted on his Facebook page an interview of Park, who supported the apology to former presidents, saying, "Are you not ashamed as a key figure of MB (Lee Myung-bak)? Instead of running for Busan mayor, you should take responsibility and announce your retirement from politics. That would be a consistent political move."

On the other hand, former Secretary-General Park officially declared his candidacy on the same day and began his campaign in earnest. In his declaration, Park said, "I will be a mayor who contributes to regime change," and added, "I will build innovative infrastructure that will sustain Busan for a hundred years, including Gadukdo Airport, the new port, Bukhang, and the 2nd Centum."

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