[Busan Battle] Park Hyungjun vs. Jeon Jaesoo... What Impact Will Han Donghoon Have? [Current Affairs Show]

"World-Class Busan" vs. "Maritime Capital Busan"
Potential Shifts in the Race Depending on the "Han Donghoon Effect"

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The fierce battle in Busan has begun. Park Hyungjun, the incumbent mayor, has been confirmed as the candidate for the People Power Party, while Jeon Jaesoo, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is running for the Democratic Party of Korea. From the Reform Party, former spokesperson Jeong Ihan has entered the race as a candidate.

Looking at the election results in Busan Metropolitan City over the past five years, it is clear that conservatives have held the upper hand. In the 2022 presidential election, candidate Yoon Suk-yeol led candidate Lee Jae-myung by 20.1 percentage points. In that year's local elections, People Power Party candidate Park Hyungjun received 66.36% of the votes, while Democratic Party candidate Byun Sungwan secured 32.23%. The People Power Party swept all district mayoral positions. In the 2024 parliamentary elections, the People Power Party won in every district except for Buk-gap (represented by Assemblyman Jeon Jaesoo).

How did the 2025 presidential election turn out? Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung garnered 40.14%, while People Power Party candidate Kim Moonsoo received 51.39%. When adding the 7.55% won by Lee Junseok of the Reform Party, the broadly defined conservative bloc outpaced Lee Jae-myung by more than 18 percentage points. Although this presidential election was held after the martial law and impeachment, the results were not much different from those in 2022.

However, since President Lee Jae-myung took office, the People Power Party has failed to regain its footing, while the president's approval ratings have soared, leading to a shift in the political landscape. As the People Power Party sees visible defections from centrist and center-right groups, the Democratic Party is expanding its base. The key question is how these developments will play out in the Busan mayoral race.

Candidate Park Hyungjun is seeking a third term as mayor of Busan. He was elected mayor in the 2021 by-election following the scandal involving former mayor Oh Geo-don and was re-elected in 2022. Born in 1960 in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, he graduated from Daeil High School and Korea University with a degree in sociology. Park previously served as a professor in the Department of Sociology at Dong-A University and as planning committee chairman at the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice. In 2004, he became a National Assembly member for Busan Suyeong under the Grand National Party. He later served as Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs and as Secretary General of the National Assembly.

Candidate Jeon Jaesoo was born in 1971 in Yongdeok-myeon, Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Gudeok High School and the Department of History Education at Dongguk University. He served as a Blue House administrator and as the second private secretary during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. After two unsuccessful runs, he was elected three consecutive terms as National Assembly member for Busan Buk-gap from the 20th to the 22nd sessions. In the 22nd session in 2024, he was the only Democratic Party candidate elected in Busan. He has also served as chairman of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

Candidate Park Hyungjun, who sees conservative forces consolidating, has emphasized grand conservative unity and party cohesion. "I will be the field commander and spearhead of more than 200 People Power Party candidates in Busan. With a do-or-die determination, I will be the final breakwater," he declared. Riding the current momentum, candidate Jeon Jaesoo emphasized, "Now is the time for action, not words. Together with the Lee Jae-myung administration, I will ensure that Busan becomes a true maritime capital."

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Candidate Park Hyungjun is campaigning under the slogan "World-Class Busan." He is highlighting his proven administrative ability, the stability and continuity of Busan's administration, and achievements such as attracting investments worth approximately 19 trillion won. Candidate Jeon Jaesoo is promoting the concept of "Maritime Capital Busan." He is emphasizing relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, establishing Busan as the starting point for Arctic routes, and positioning Busan as the hub for the integration of Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province (Bu-Ul-Gyeong). For Park, concerns include the low approval ratings of the People Power Party, voter fatigue from seeking a third term, and criticism regarding the failure to secure the Busan Expo. For Jeon, a burden is the allegation that he received a Cartier watch worth 7.85 million won from the Unification Church in 2019.

In this context, attention is focused on how former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon's apparent move to run in Busan Buk-gap will impact the overall electoral landscape in Busan. If Han, as the new center of the conservative bloc replacing the fragmented People Power Party, establishes a strong foothold in Busan, the election could become highly competitive. However, if the conservatives become more divided, this could prove disadvantageous for Park. To predict the direction of the election, factors such as who will run as the Democratic Party candidate and Han's level of support still need to be watched closely.

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