DPK Finalizes By-Election Nominations... To Transition to Campaign Committee System on the 10th (Comprehensive)

Kim Young-bin Strategically Nominated as Candidate for Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang

The Democratic Party of Korea announced on May 8 that it will strategically nominate lawyer Kim Young-bin as its candidate for the parliamentary by-election in Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province, which will be held alongside the June 3 local elections.

On the 8th, at the 4th Talent Recruitment Ceremony of the Democratic Party held at the National Assembly, Representative Chung Cheong-rae is putting the Democratic Party's symbolic "blue jumper" on lawyer Kim Young-bin. Photo by Yonhap News

Kang Junhyeon, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters at the National Assembly shortly after the party's Strategic Nomination Management Committee meeting held that afternoon that the committee had decided to strategically nominate lawyer Kim for the constituency of Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate for South Chungcheong Province.

Chief Spokesperson Kang explained, "Kim is the person who laid the groundwork for the prosecution reform legislation promoted by the party. He possesses both the public service experience of working for the people's livelihood and the professionalism honed in the field. He is the most suitable, customized talent to overcome the crisis of local extinction and revitalize the economy of Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang."

Born in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, lawyer Kim attended elementary, middle, and high school in Gongju. While studying at Korea University's School of Law, he passed the 47th bar exam and subsequently completed the 37th Judicial Research and Training Institute program. He began his career as a prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office and worked at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and the policy advisory office of the Ministry of Justice. He is known to have participated in the establishment and institutionalization of the prosecution reform bill.

Lawyer Kim stated, "I will devote myself to repaying both the grace of my hometown and the trust the Democratic Party has placed in me," adding, "As the prepared Kim Young-bin, I will now take the great first step toward a greater leap forward for Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang with a new perspective as someone in his 40s."

With this nomination, the Democratic Party has now finalized its candidates for all 14 parliamentary by-elections.

This announcement came just one day after former National Assembly Vice Speaker Chung Jin-suk, who previously served as chief of staff to former President Yoon Suk-yeol, withdrew his application for the Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang candidacy from the People Power Party amidst the so-called "Yoon Again" controversy. As of now, the People Power Party has yet to finalize candidates for the two constituencies of Gongju, Buyeo, Cheongyang and Gunsan, Gimje, Buan.

With the completion of nominations for both metropolitan mayors and by-election candidates, the Democratic Party will now transition to an election campaign committee system. To this end, the party will hold a launch ceremony for the "National Normalization of the Republic of Korea" Central Election Campaign Committee on May 10.

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