Democratic Party Grants Sole Nominations to Song Cheol-ho in Ulsan, Byeon Seong-wan in Busan, and Seo Jae-heon in Daegu

Kim Tae-nyeon, Chair of the Nomination Management Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a speech at the AI interview screening for metropolitan mayoral candidates held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea has exclusively nominated the current Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho as its candidate for the Ulsan mayoral election in the June 1 local elections. For the Busan mayoral race, former acting mayor Byun Seong-wan was exclusively nominated, and for the Daegu mayoral race, former Daegu Dong-gu Gap district committee chairman and party deputy spokesperson Seo Jae-heon was exclusively nominated.

Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party’s nomination management committee chairman, held a briefing at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, to announce these decisions.

Regarding nominations for metropolitan government heads in the local elections, the Democratic Party decided to hold primaries in six regions: Gwangju, Jeonbuk, Daejeon, Chungnam, Sejong, and Jeju, while making exclusive nominations in three regions: Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. The primary method was decided to be a national participation primary with 50% votes from party members and 50% from general public voters using secure phone numbers.

For the Gwangju mayoral race, incumbent mayor Lee Yong-seop and former Blue House political secretary Kang Ki-jung will compete in the primary. In Jeonbuk, incumbent governor Song Ha-jin, who was seeking a third term, was cut off, and a three-way primary was set among two-term lawmakers Kim Yoon-duk and Ahn Ho-young, and former lawmaker Kim Kwan-young.

For the Daejeon mayoral race, incumbent mayor Heo Tae-jeong and former Seo-gu district mayor Jang Jong-tae will compete, while for Chungnam governor, incumbent Yang Seung-jo and former Nonsan mayor Hwang Myung-seon will face off in a two-person primary.

For Sejong mayor, incumbent Lee Chun-hee, party youth committee spokesperson Bae Seon-ho, and former economic vice mayor Jo Sang-ho will compete in the primary. For Jeju mayor, two-term lawmaker Oh Young-hoon and former presidential secretary for system improvement Moon Dae-rim will compete in the primary.

Regions not announced on this day are expected to be decided next week.

Whether a primary will be held for Chungbuk governor has not been decided. Currently, former presidential secretary No Young-min is the sole candidate. Chairman Kim said, "We conducted a very thorough review according to our party’s constitution, regulations, and enforcement rules," adding, "In the case of Chungbuk, the announcement will be made at the next nomination committee meeting."

Incumbent local government heads who registered alone, Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun and Jeonnam Governor Kim Yong-rok, were exclusively nominated on the 13th.

Kim Dong-yeon, leader of the New Wave party who declared his candidacy for Gyeonggi governor, will register as a preliminary primary candidate according to an exception rule after the merger process is completed. Chairman Kim stated, "In the case of Gyeonggi Province, once the merger process with New Wave is completed, we will hold an additional call for applications, accept additional candidates, and proceed with the nomination review according to the established procedures," adding, "Gangwon and Gyeongbuk have already held additional calls for applications."

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