Democratic Party Public Official Committee Confirms First Round of Primary Districts... 15 Incumbents Proceed to Primaries

Primary elections in 23 districts, 13 single-candidate nominations announced in 1st round
13 confirmed for main election, all 'non-incumbent figures'
Bottom 20% of incumbents evaluated... Notification after Seol holiday

The Democratic Party of Korea announced 36 districts for the first round of primary elections and uncontested nominations for the general election. All 15 incumbent lawmakers included in this list were decided to compete in primaries. The Democratic Party plans to announce the results of the second round of evaluations after the Lunar New Year holiday, and the individual notifications for the bottom 20% of incumbent lawmakers, who are effectively excluded from nominations, are also scheduled for after the holiday.

The Democratic Party's Nomination Management Committee selected and disclosed 23 primary districts and 13 uncontested districts on the 6th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

Im Hyuk-baek, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Recommendation Management Committee, is announcing the first round primary candidates at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 6th. Previously, the committee conducted interviews over six days from the 31st of last month until the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The districts confirmed for primaries are ▲3 in Seoul (Seodaemun-eul, Songpa-eul, Songpa-byeong) ▲1 in Busan (Geumjeong) ▲2 in Incheon (Yeonsu-eul, Namdong-gap) ▲3 in Gwangju (Buk-gap, Buk-eul, Dongnam-gap) ▲2 in Daejeon (Dong Yuseong-gap) ▲1 in Ulsan (Nam-eul) ▲3 in Gyeonggi (Gwangmyeong-gap, Gunpo, Paju-gap) ▲1 in Chungnam (Dangjin) ▲1 in Jeonbuk (Iksan-gap) ▲3 in Gyeongbuk (Pohang Nam-Ulleung, Gimcheon, Gumi) ▲2 in Gyeongnam (Changwon Jinhae, Sacheon Namhae Hadong) ▲1 in Jeju (Jeju-gap), etc.

All 15 incumbent lawmakers listed in this announcement will compete in primaries regardless of gender or whether the district is considered a difficult seat. Notably, in Seoul Seodaemun-eul, incumbent lawmaker Kim Young-ho and former district mayor Moon Seok-jin will face off, and in Seoul Songpa-byeong, incumbent lawmaker Nam In-soon and former district mayor Park Sung-soo will compete. In Incheon Yeonsu-eul, incumbent lawmaker Jung Il-young and former district mayor Ko Nam-seok are competing, while in Namdong-gap, incumbent lawmaker Maeng Sung-kyu will compete against former city councilor Ko Jon-su for the nomination.

Incumbent lawmakers Jo Oh-seop (Buk-gap), Lee Hyung-seok (Buk-eul), and Yoon Young-duk (Dongnam-gap) from Gwangju will also compete in primaries without exception. In Seoul Songpa-eul, a three-way primary will be held. Song Ki-ho, Songpa-eul district committee chairman; Park Ji-hyun, former co-chair of the emergency countermeasure committee; and Hong Seong-ryong, co-chair of the Democratic Party Innovation Path, will compete for the ticket to the general election. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the votes in the primary, they will advance directly to the general election without a runoff.

Im Hyuk-baek, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Recommendation Management Committee, is announcing the first round primary candidates at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 6th. Previously, the committee conducted interviews over six days from the 31st of last month until the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The 13 uncontested nomination districts were also confirmed on the same day. These include ▲4 in Busan (Seodong, Busanjin-eul, Bukgangseo-eul, Haeundae-gap) ▲2 in Daegu (Dalseo-eul, Dalseong) ▲1 in Ulsan (Dong) ▲1 in Chungbuk (Jecheon Danyang) ▲2 in Chungnam (Gongju Buyeo Cheongyang, Seosan Taean) ▲1 in Gyeongbuk (Gyeongju) ▲2 in Gyeongnam (Jinju-gap, Yangsan-gap), etc.

All 13 candidates confirmed for the general election are non-incumbents. Notably, Park Soo-hyun, who served as spokesperson for former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung’s presidential campaign and was the first spokesperson for the Moon Jae-in administration’s Blue House, secured the nomination for the Chungnam Gongju Buyeo Cheongyang district.

Additionally, in Busan, preliminary candidates Choi Hyung-wook (Seodong), Lee Hyun (Busanjin-eul), Byun Sung-wan (Bukgangseo-eul), and Hong Soon-heon (Haeundae-gap) secured nomination tickets. Preliminary candidates Kim Sung-tae (Daegu Dalseo-eul), Park Hyung-ryong (Daegu Dalseong), Kim Tae-seon (Ulsan Dong), Lee Kyung-yong (Chungbuk Jecheon Danyang), Jo Han-gi (Chungnam Seosan Taean), and Gal Sang-don (Gyeongnam Jinju-gap) also received uncontested nominations.

Im Hyuk-baek, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Recommendation Management Committee, is announcing the first round primary candidates at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 6th. Previously, the committee conducted interviews over six days from the 31st of last month until the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Im Hyuk-baek, chairman of the Nomination Management Committee, emphasized, "The Democratic Party candidates announced today are the vanguard for the Democratic Party’s sure victory in the 22nd general election," adding, "The Democratic Party’s vanguard must become warriors who realize the nationwide desire to 'overthrow prosecutorial dictatorship' and 'judge the incompetent Yoon Seok-yeol administration.'" He further stated, "This nomination is one of innovation and unity," and "Innovation and unity will be completed through a 'honorable revolutionary nomination.'"

In particular, he demanded 'responsibility' from those excluded in the first round of nominations or those who contributed to the rise of the Yoon Seok-yeol government. Chairman Im said, "Senior politicians not included in the first round nomination announcement list are requested to make responsible decisions to pave the way for their juniors," and "Those who unintentionally contributed to the birth of the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutorial regime should also show a responsible attitude."

The Nomination Committee plans to announce the second round of primary and uncontested districts after the Lunar New Year holiday. Notifications for the bottom 20% of incumbent lawmakers are also expected to be made after the holiday. Chairman Im said, "I alone hold full authority over the notifications and the list," adding, "The announcement will be made at an appropriate time, which will definitely be after the Lunar New Year, considering enough time for those notified to raise objections and participate in primaries."

Regarding the possibility of additional defections among the 'bottom 20%', he said, "Most of those notified have undergone interviews, and during the interviews, we always ask if they will become one team and dedicate themselves to the party’s victory even if they lose the primary," adding, "Without exception, everyone pledged to become one team and support the winning candidate." He added, "I think there will be no cases of those notified defecting."

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