Seoul District Mayors' Nomination Aftermath Serious... Red Light for June 1 Local Elections?

Published 23 Apr.2022 10:16(KST)

Updated 23 Apr.2022 12:54(KST)

Democratic Party Confirms Single Nomination Centered on Incumbent District Mayor, Rejected Candidates Strongly Protest, Hint at Independent Runs... Red Light for June 1 Local Elections Draws Attention

Seoul District Mayors' Nomination Aftermath Serious... Red Light for June 1 Local Elections?

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Democratic Party of Korea's candidates for district mayor positions in Seoul are beginning to take shape.

As a result, candidates who were expected to be strong contenders but were eliminated are expressing dissatisfaction with the nomination results, hinting at possible party withdrawal, causing unrest in the local political scene.

In particular, following the March 9 presidential election where the Democratic Party lost 14 out of 25 district mayor positions in Seoul to the People Power Party's candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters are experiencing confusion ahead of the June 1 local elections, leading analysts to believe the election outcome is far from optimistic.

A prospective district mayor candidate, Mr. A, said in a phone interview on the 23rd, "Is it sane to grant a sole nomination to someone who has been accused of violating election laws?" He expressed his frustration, calling it "a sign of the party's downfall."

He added, "After going through appeal procedures such as a retrial, if the decision is not accepted, I will run as an independent candidate and let the residents judge."

Another prospective candidate, Mr. B, also questioned, "Is it proper screening to nominate someone opposed by the local committee chair and under investigation?" He stated, "Some measures must be taken."

A key associate of candidate C said, "Since a primary would be disadvantageous, they did not allow a primary and recommended the opposing candidate as the sole nominee," adding, "We are reviewing various strategies to defeat that candidate within a few days."

It is not unusual for eliminated candidates who fail to secure nominations to protest during elections.

However, the upcoming June 1 local elections for Seoul mayor and district mayors are expected to be particularly challenging for the Democratic Party. Even a defection of a few thousand votes locally could easily lead to victory for the opposing party's candidates, making the election results highly anticipated from the outset.