Ruling Party Strategizes By-Elections Lineup... Weighs Placement of Heavyweights Kwangjae Lee and Song Younggil

Negative Outlook on Kim Yong’s Nomination

The Democratic Party of Korea’s “love call” to former Gangwon Province Governor Kwangjae Lee to run in the June 3 by-elections has complicated the party’s calculations regarding the placement of Song Younggil, former party leader, and Kim Yong, former Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, both of whom were considering running in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The Democratic Party is expected to convene a meeting of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee as early as April 23 to decide on strategic nominations for former Governor Lee, former Chairman Song, and others.

Kwangjae Lee, regional chairman of Bundang Gap for the Democratic Party of Korea, is interviewing with The Asia Business Daily in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Party Chairman Jeong Cheongrae commented, “Even though former Governor Lee was a strong candidate for Gangwon Province, he moved aside for candidate Woo Sangho in a display of putting the party before himself, which moved many people. He would be highly competitive even if he ran in an area that has recently become a hot spot.” The party initially proposed Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi Province as his constituency, but it is known that Lee’s side prefers Hanam-gap. However, Lee’s associates stated, “For now, it is more important to help elect colleagues such as senior Woo Sangho, Kim Kyungsoo, and Jeon Jae-soo, with whom he has shared political ideals.”

Former Chairman Song is reportedly steadfast in his intention to run in Incheon, his political home. While Pyeongtaek-eul and Hanam-gap in Gyeonggi Province have also been mentioned, there is a possibility of a strategic primary in Yeonsu-gap, Incheon as well. For Incheon Gyeyang-eul, where Song served five terms, Kim Namjoon, former Blue House spokesperson, is currently considered the leading candidate.

There is a skeptical atmosphere regarding the strategic nomination of Kim Yong, former Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide to President Lee Jaemyung. On CBS Radio that day, Cho Seungrae, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party and head of nomination operations, said, “There are stronger opinions that the negatives outweigh the positives overall.”

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