People Power Party, 'Pro-Yoon' Kim Eun-hye and Jang Ye-chan Win Primary... 12 Incumbents Survive in Constituencies

Incumbents Jeon Bong-min, Kim Yong-pan, Lee Joo-hwan, Jo Soo-jin Defeated
Lee Cheol-gyu: "Replacing Incumbents Is Not the Ultimate Virtue"

In the People Power Party primary, candidates classified as 'pro-Yoon Seok-yeol' secured victories. Among the 18 incumbent lawmakers who participated in the primary, 12 survived, continuing the trend of incumbent wins. In response to criticism, the People Power Party explained that the results reflect the will of local voters.

People Power Party's Jeong Young-hwan, Chair of the Nomination Management Committee (right), is announcing the meeting results at the Yeouido party headquarters on the 26th. On the left is Jang Dong-hyuk, Secretary General.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 28th, the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee announced the results of the second-round primaries in 24 constituencies and the first-round primary runoffs in 2 constituencies at the central party office in Yeouido. Through the second-round primaries, the following candidates secured their spots for the general election: Kim Geun-sik (Songpa-gu B, Seoul), Lee Heon-seung (Jin-gu Eul, Busan), Baek Jong-heon (Geumjeong-gu), Kim Hee-jung (Yeonje-gu), Jang Ye-chan (Suyeong-gu), Kim Sang-hoon (Seo-gu, Daegu), Kim Seung-soo (Buk-gu Eul), Joo Ho-young (Suseong-gu Gap), Kwon Young-jin (Dalseo-gu B), Yoon So-sik (Yuseong-gu Gap, Daejeon), Park Kyung-ho (Daedeok-gu), Kim Ki-hyun (Nam-gu Eul, Ulsan), Seo Beom-su (Ulju-gun), Lee Jun-bae (Sejong Eul), Kim Eun-hye (Seongnam Bundang-gu Eul, Gyeonggi), Kim Jeong-jae (Pohang Buk-gu, Gyeongbuk), Kim Seok-ki (Gyeongju), Song Eon-seok (Gimcheon), Koo Ja-geun (Gumi Gap), Im I-ja (Sangju-si & Mungyeong-si), and Seo Cheon-ho (Sacheon-si, Namhae-gun & Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam). The runoffs will be held for Kim Hee-gon and Seo Ji-young in Dongnae-gu, Busan; Do Tae-woo and Lim Byung-heon in Jung-gu & Nam-gu, Daegu; and Kim Byung-wook and Lee Sang-hwi in Pohang Nam-gu & Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk. In the first-round primary runoffs, Koo Ja-ryong (Yangcheon-gu Gap, Seoul) and Hwang Myeong-ju (Gwangju-si Eul, Gyeonggi) won.

Candidates classified as so-called 'pro-Yoon' won in the primaries. Former presidential office spokesperson Kim Eun-hye defeated party spokesperson Kim Min-su to become the final candidate. Political newcomer Jang Ye-chan, former youth supreme council member, won against incumbent lawmaker Jeon Bong-min. Speaking to reporters at the central party office in Yeouido, Jang said, "As a representative of the 30s generation, I want to say that the People Power Party primary is being reformed and it is moving. Under the principle of 'Serve the people before oneself' mentioned by Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon and President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'People First,' we can work as one team."

Among the 18 incumbent district lawmakers, 3 tasted defeat. This marks the first case of an incumbent losing in a district. The former lawmaker of Suyeong-gu, Busan, lost to former supreme council member Jang Ye-chan; Kim Yong-pan, incumbent of Dalseo-gu B, Daegu, lost to former Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin; and Lee Ju-hwan, incumbent of Yeonje-gu, Busan, lost to former lawmaker Kim Hee-jung. Although not a district lawmaker, proportional representative lawmaker Cho Soo-jin of Yangcheon-gu Gap, Seoul, lost in the runoff against Emergency Response Committee member Koo Ja-ryong.

Twelve incumbents survived. In Daegu, three incumbents (Joo Ho-young, Kim Sang-hoon, Kim Seung-soo), in Busan two (Lee Heon-seung, Baek Jong-heon), in Ulsan two (Kim Ki-hyun, Seo Beom-su), and in Gyeongbuk five (Kim Jeong-jae, Kim Seok-ki, Song Eon-seok, Koo Ja-geun, Im I-ja) won their primaries.

Three incumbents will proceed to runoffs as the results were inconclusive. Kim Hee-gon is in a three-person primary in Dongnae-gu, Busan, and will face former Blue House National Planning Office administrator Seo Ji-young in the runoff. Kim Byung-wook will face former Blue House Chunchoo Director Lee Sang-hwi in Pohang Nam-gu & Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk, and Lim Byung-heon will face Do Tae-woo, chairman of the Free Lawyers Association, in the runoff for Jung-gu & Nam-gu, Daegu.

In response to criticism that the incumbent replacement rate is low, the People Power Party's Nomination Committee explained that they confirmed candidates who can win the general election. Lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu said, "People think incumbent replacement is the ultimate virtue, but that is not true. Elections should reflect the will of local residents and voters, not be arbitrarily changed by those holding nomination power. I cannot agree with the Democratic Party's attack that not replacing incumbents means losing votes." Nomination Committee Chairman Jeong Young-hwan said, "More incumbents defended their seats than expected. The vote share of new candidates is low. Incumbents have merits."

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