People Power Party nominates Ahn Cheol-soo, Won Hee-ryong unopposed... Choi Young-hee is first incumbent to be 'cut off'

The People Power Party announced the candidates who will be confirmed without separate primaries in the Gyeonggi and Incheon constituencies. This marks the first case where an incumbent lawmaker was 'cut off' (excluded from the primary) in this nomination process.

People Power Party's Jeong Young-hwan, Chair of the Nomination Management Committee, is announcing the results of the 7th meeting on the morning of the 15th at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.
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The People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee announced the results of the second round of uncontested nominations for the Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeonbuk regions on the morning of the 15th. A total of 25 candidates were uncontested nominees: 14 in Gyeonggi, 5 in Incheon, and 6 in Jeonbuk. In Gyeonggi, the uncontested nominees include Kim Hyun-jun (Suwon Gap), Bang Moon-gyu (Suwon Byeong), Lee Soo-jung (Suwon Jeong), Jang Young-ha (Seongnam Sujeong), Yoon Yong-geun (Seongnam Jungwon), Ahn Cheol-soo (Seongnam Bundang Gap), Jeon Hee-kyung (Uijeongbu Gap), Choi Don-ik (Anyang Manan), Lim Jae-hoon (Anyang Dongan Gap), Jeon Dong-seok (Gwangmyeong-eul), Kim Jong-hyuk (Goyang Byeong), Choi Ki-sik (Uiwang-Pacheon), Kwak Gwan-yong (Namyangju Eul), and Jo Gwang-han (Namyangju Byeong). In Incheon, the uncontested nominees are Bae Jun-young (Jung-gu, Ganghwa, Ongjin), Shim Jae-don (Dong-gu, Michuhol Gap), Yoon Sang-hyun (Dong-gu, Michuhol Eul), Jung Seung-yeon (Yeonsu Gap), and Won Hee-ryong (Gyeyang Eul). In Jeonbuk, the uncontested nominees include Yang Jeong-mu (Jeonju Gap), Jung Woon-cheon (Jeonju Eul), Kim Min-seo (Iksan Gap), Moon Yong-hee (Iksan Eul), Choi Yong-woon (Jeongeup-Gochang), and Kang Byung-mu (Namwon-Imsil-Sunchang). Combined with the uncontested nominations in Seoul, Honam, and Jeju regions announced the previous day, a total of 50 constituencies have been confirmed for uncontested nominations.

Jeon Hee-kyung, former Presidential Office Political Secretary 1, received an uncontested nomination in Uijeongbu Gap, Gyeonggi, resulting in People Power Party lawmaker Choi Young-hee being the first incumbent lawmaker to be 'cut off.' Lawmaker Choi succeeded the proportional representation seat after former lawmaker Cho Tae-yong was appointed ambassador to the United States in 2022. With Bundang Eul in Gyeonggi excluded from uncontested nominations, another former Presidential Office official, Kim Eun-hye, former Presidential Office Chief Public Relations Secretary, is expected to face off against Kim Min-soo, People Power Party spokesperson, in a primary.

The People Power Party leadership expressed confidence in the system-based nominations. Jang Dong-hyuk, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, told reporters on the morning of the announcement that regarding criticisms that candidates from Yongsan were being discriminated against, "We followed the criteria," adding, "If we exclude someone, the media asks why, and if we include someone, they also ask why. I think it is criticism for the sake of criticism." He further stated, "These are candidates who are overwhelmingly competitive in the eyes of the public." Regarding lawmaker Kim Woong's criticism that the nomination process was a 'rigged game,' he said, "I think there can be different views on the nomination results," and added, "We considered competitiveness and the public's expectations."

The party has left open the possibility of additional recruitment in the metropolitan area. It is expected that primaries, priority recommendations, or additional recruitment will be conducted in 30 constituencies in Seoul that were not included in the uncontested nominations. Secretary-General Jang said, "If there are no competitive candidates in areas where uncontested nominations were not announced, we can rearrange current candidates or prioritize recommendations from recruited talents. In that case, there is no need for additional recruitment," but added, "(Discussions on additional recruitment) will be held after all constituency interviews are completed."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party's Nomination Committee announced that one candidate, mistakenly believed to be a young recruited talent, was disqualified. Jeong Young-hwan, chairman of the Nomination Committee, explained the reason for the disqualification: "This candidate has been reported multiple times in the media for causing social controversies," and added, "They distributed business cards with false career information, damaging the dignity expected of a public office candidate."

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