Gyeonggi Governor Candidates Kim Eun-hye and Yoo Seung-min Shortlisted... People Power Party Announces 11 Regional Governor Primary Candidates

On the 8th, at the National Assembly, during the interview for the People Power Party's 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections for metropolitan mayoral candidates, Representative Kim Eun-hye, who finished her interview first, and former Representative Yoo Seung-min, who is entering for his interview, are greeting each other. / Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min have been selected as the People Power Party candidates for the June 1 local election gubernatorial primary in Gyeonggi Province. In the Chungnam gubernatorial race, Kim Tae-heum, who withdrew from the floor leader race, is competing against Professor Kim Dong-wan and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Park Chan-woo. In Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk, Professor Joo Ki-hwan of Honam University, former Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun, and former lawmaker Cho Bae-sook were nominated unopposed, respectively.

The People Power Party’s Nomination Management Committee held a meeting on the 12th and announced the primary candidates for 11 regional metropolitan government heads. Among the six candidates who applied for the Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial primary?former lawmaker Kang Yong-seok, Kim Eun-hye, former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Shim Jae-cheol, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, former lawmaker Ham Jin-kyu, and Professor Cheon Gang-jeong?the candidates were narrowed down to Kim and Yoo. Former lawmaker Kang, who had expressed his intention to run for the Gyeonggi governorship, was ultimately denied reinstatement at the Supreme Council meeting on the 7th, and former lawmaker Shim withdrew on the 12th, expressing support for Kim.

The Incheon mayoral primary candidates were decided as former mayors Yoo Jeong-bok and Ahn Sang-soo, and former lawmaker Lee Hak-jae. In Daejeon, former lawmaker Lee Jang-woo, former Chungnam National University President Jeong Sang-cheol, and former lawmaker Jeong Yong-gi will compete. Former Daejeon Mayor Park Seong-hyo, who fell under the clause excluding candidates who have failed more than three times, was excluded from the list.

In Chungbuk, former minister and special adviser to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol Kim Young-hwan, former first vice minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Park Kyung-guk, and former lawmaker Oh Je-se will compete in the primary. Former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon was eliminated. In Sejong, lawyer Sung Seon-je and People Power Party Policy Committee Vice Chairman Choi Min-ho will face off in a two-person contest.

Ulsan, which had seven applicants, will hold a primary among former Ulsan Nam-gu Mayor Kim Du-gyeom, lawmaker Seo Beom-su, lawmaker Lee Chae-ik, and former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Jeong Gap-yoon. In the Gyeongnam gubernatorial race, lawmaker Park Wan-su and former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Lee Ju-young will compete.

In Honam, a region where the People Power Party is weak, unopposed nominations were decided. Professor Joo Ki-hwan of Honam University will run for Gwangju mayor, and former Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun and former lawmaker Cho Bae-sook will run as the People Power Party candidates in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, respectively.

The People Power Party announced a total of 14 metropolitan government head primary candidates, including the confirmed nominations of Seoul’s Oh Se-hoon, Busan’s Park Hyung-joon, and Gyeongbuk’s Lee Cheol-woo the day before. Kim Haeng, spokesperson for the Nomination Committee, told reporters immediately after the meeting, “We will announce the remaining regions, including Daegu, as soon as the results of public opinion polls and interviews are compiled.”

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