Jung Sye-kyun and Kim Du-kwan May Join Lee Jae-myung's Camp... Fierce Recruitment Competition in the Opposition Camp

Which Candidates Will the Eliminated Contenders Support?

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporters Jeon Jinyoung and Park Juni] As the presidential primary candidates of the two major parties are narrowing down, attention is focused on which candidates eliminated in the cut-off will support which candidates. The ruling party is gradually indicating support for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (current Governor of Gyeonggi Province), while in the opposition, where the final candidate has not yet been decided, the competition to recruit candidates between former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo is intensifying.

Woo Won-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker who served as co-chairman of Lee’s campaign committee, hinted at the possibility of former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and lawmaker Kim Du-kwan, who withdrew mid-primary, joining the campaign during MBC Radio’s 'Kim Jong-bae’s Focus' on the 12th. When asked by the host, "Do you think the two will also participate in the campaign committee?" Woo replied, "I believe they definitely will."

Kim, who expressed support for Lee, stated on Facebook the day before that he must accept the primary results, and former Prime Minister Chung also posted on Facebook the previous day, saying, "It is time to move forward together toward the 4th Democratic Party government."

Former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae also hinted at joining the campaign committee after the primary results were announced on the 10th, saying, "From today, I will do my best to solve the winning formula of a 'party-centered election' and a 'melting pot campaign committee.'"

In the opposition, ‘love calls’ are pouring in for candidates eliminated in the cut-off such as former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, former lawmaker Jang Sung-min, and People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung. It has been confirmed that former lawmaker Jang is likely to support former Prosecutor General Yoon. In a phone interview with this paper on the same day, he said, "I judge that former Prosecutor General Yoon is a bigger alternative for regime change." The two had a luncheon meeting on the 9th.

A person close to former Chairman Choi also said in a phone call on the same day, "He is personally close to former Prosecutor General Yoon, and since their reasons for entering politics are similar, they agreed to support whoever becomes the candidate," indicating a high possibility of supporting Yoon.

Park Jin, a People Power Party lawmaker eliminated in the first cut-off, expressed support for former Prosecutor General Yoon on the 30th of last month. Former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo, eliminated in the second cut-off, declared support for lawmaker Hong on the morning of the same day and joined as co-chairman of the campaign committee and head of the Incheon general headquarters.

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