Joguk Innovation Party Goes All In on Yeonggwang and Gokseong By-Elections... Deliberates Distance from Democratic Party

The candidate lineup between the Democratic Party and the Joguk Innovation Party has been finalized for the upcoming by-elections in the Honam region next month. The Joguk Innovation Party is considering how to expand its influence through this by-election while also managing its distance from the Democratic Party.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, is purchasing Yeonggwang gulbi at the Beopseong branch of the Yeonggwang County Fisheries Cooperative in Jeollanam-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joguk Innovation Party announced on the 11th that it had selected Jang Hyun, chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation's Yeonggwang branch, as its candidate for the Yeonggwang County governor by-election. The party confirmed Park Woong-du, former head of the Gokseong Education Hope Coalition, as the candidate for Gokseong County governor, and lawyer Ryu Je-seong as the candidate for Busan Geumjeong District mayor through a 100% wireless ARS vote held from the 9th to the 10th. However, since no candidate received a majority in the Yeonggwang County governor primary, a runoff vote was conducted.

The Democratic Party finalized its by-election candidates earlier than the Joguk Innovation Party. On the 9th, Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, announced that Jo Sang-rae, former Jeonnam provincial assembly member, was confirmed as the candidate for Gokseong County governor, and lawyer Kim Kyung-ji was confirmed as the candidate for Geumjeong District mayor. The candidate for Yeonggwang County governor, Jang Se-il, former Jeonnam provincial assembly member, was decided early on the 3rd.

'Catfish Effect' Expected by Joguk Innovation Party... Democratic Party Emphasizes "Election Cure"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joguk Innovation Party aims to use this by-election as a turning point. Although it secured 12 seats through proportional votes in the 22nd general election, its approval ratings have since stagnated. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 3rd to the 5th among 1,001 voters aged 18 and over, the Joguk Innovation Party's approval rating was 7%. This is a drop of more than two-thirds compared to the 24.25% proportional vote share in the 22nd general election.

The Joguk Innovation Party is practically going all-in on this by-election. As soon as the candidates were confirmed on the 11th, party leader Jo Guk went down to Honam to begin a "residential election campaign." He rented monthly rooms in both Yeonggwang and Gokseong counties. Although he has duties in Seoul such as preparing for the National Assembly audit and attending the Supreme Council meetings, he plans to commute back and forth to manage his schedule. The party also held a lawmakers' workshop in Yeonggwang County on the 29th of last month and then moved to Gokseong County to meet with farmers.

Internally, the Joguk Innovation Party sees potential in the Honam region. In the general election, the party recorded a 43.97% vote share in Jeonnam, surpassing the Democratic Party's 39.88%. In a phone interview, lawmaker Jeong Chun-saeng of the Joguk Innovation Party said, "The grassroots sentiment is good. The support from the general election is continuing," adding, "Although the Democratic Party's system is firmly established in Honam, the Joguk Innovation Party will create a 'catfish effect' by competing and revitalizing the atmosphere."

The Democratic Party also maintains that it cannot give up Yeonggwang and Gokseong counties. After a two-day workshop on the 29th of last month, the party visited Suncheon City and Yeonggwang County in Jeonnam instead of returning to Seoul. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung expressed his determination to win the by-election while raising the issue of regime judgment. On the 11th, at the by-election candidate nomination ceremony, Lee said, "Although this election is small in scale and dispersed across regions, we must show that politics that go against the will of the people cannot survive under this regime," adding, "This regime needs an 'election cure.'"

Geumjeong District Mayor Election to Serve as a Barometer for Distance Between Two Parties... Jo Guk Proposes "Public Debate"

Cho Kuk, leader of the National Innovation Party, is speaking at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held on the afternoon of the 12th at the election office of Ryu Je-seong, candidate for mayor of Geumjeong-gu, Busan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the Joguk Innovation Party is cautious about widening the gap with the Democratic Party through this election. Candidate Jang Hyun, who left the Democratic Party in protest of its Yeonggwang County governor primary process, is running under the Joguk Innovation Party banner. From the Democratic Party's perspective, they face a candidate who switched party affiliation. A Joguk Innovation Party official said, "There was no prior communication with candidate Jang regarding his candidacy," adding, "He was an unplanned candidate who just came and participated in the primary."

The unification of candidates in the Geumjeong District mayor by-election is expected to be a measure of the distance between the Democratic Party and the Joguk Innovation Party. While the Democratic Party emphasizes regime judgment and the Joguk Innovation Party highlights that leader Jo Guk is from Busan, the region is a stronghold of the People Power Party, making it highly unlikely for either progressive party to win without unification. For now, each party is focusing on their election campaigns. Leader Lee Jae-myung promoted candidate Kim Kyung-ji by introducing her to former President Moon Jae-in, while leader Jo Guk visited Busan for a one-night, two-day schedule to hold a Supreme Council meeting and manage other events.

Leader Jo Guk proposed a unification and public debate to the Democratic Party. He said, "We need to create a scenario where the Democratic and progressive camps face off against the People Power Party," and added, "Let's decide the unified opposition candidate for Geumjeong District mayor through a public debate rather than a poll."

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