People Power Party Nominates Park Minsik for 'Busan Bukgu Gap'... Three-Way Race with Ha Jeongwoo and Han Donghun

Focus on Han Donghun and the Possibility of a Unified Opposition Candidate

The People Power Party has nominated Park Minsik, former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, as its candidate for the Buk-gap constituency in Busan, where a by-election for the National Assembly will be held alongside the June 3 nationwide local elections.

On May 5, Park Deokheum, Chairman of the Candidate Management Committee of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul. He announced that as a result of a two-day process from May 3 to 4, which included a party member vote (50%) and a public opinion poll (50%), Park was selected as the final candidate, defeating Lee Youngpung, former KBS reporter.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kwangmo Hwang = Park Deokheum, Chairman of the Candidate Management Committee of the People Power Party, answers questions from reporters after announcing the nomination results for the June 3 by-elections in Buk-gu Gap, Busan, at the People Power Party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul, on May 5. The Candidate Management Committee of the People Power Party announced the nomination of Park Minsik, former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, for the Buk-gu Gap constituency in Busan after a public opinion survey. 2026.5.5 hkmpooh@yna.co.kr (End)

With the nomination of former Minister Park, the Buk-gap constituency in Busan is expected to see a three-way race among Ha Jungwoo, former Chief of AI (Artificial Intelligence) Future Planning at the Blue House and the Democratic Party's candidate, Han Donghoon, former People Power Party leader running as an independent, and Park Minsik.

While the possibility of the opposition candidates uniting is expected to influence the election outcome, as of now, the leadership of the People Power Party, including Representative Jang Donghyuk, maintains a negative stance on the prospect.

Former Minister Park is a native of Busan and graduated from Gupo Elementary School, Gupo Middle School, and Busan National University High School. He previously served two terms as a lawmaker representing Buk-Gangseo-gap in Busan and worked as the inaugural Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The People Power Party has completed nominations for 12 out of the 14 constituencies in this round of by-elections. Additional candidate recruitment is underway for Gongju·Buyeo·Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province and Gunsan·Gimje·Buan in North Jeolla Province.

Regarding the application by former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jinseok for the Gongju·Buyeo·Cheongyang constituency, Chairman Park answered, "If the Ethics Committee is held as scheduled on the 7th, we will convene a meeting to discuss the results." Former Deputy Speaker Chung, a former chief of staff to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently under indictment by a special prosecutor for insurrection. Under the People Power Party's constitution and regulations, his eligibility to apply for various party nominations is currently suspended.

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