Democrats Strategically Nominate 4 'Recruitment Talents'... "No Discussion on Im Jong-seok"

The Democratic Party's Strategic Nomination Management Committee announced the first results of strategic nominations centered on four 'recruited talents.'

On the afternoon of the 15th, Ahn Gyu-baek, chairman of the Democratic Party's Strategic Nomination Committee, met with reporters immediately after the committee meeting at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, and stated, "We have approved strategic nominations for four electoral districts centered on recruited talents," adding, "We have reported to the party leader and will proceed through the Supreme Council's resolution and the Party Affairs Committee's approval process."

Ahn Kyu-baek, Chair of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

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▲ Seoul Gangnam-eul - Kang Cheong-hee, former full-time vice president of the Korean Medical Association ▲ Incheon Bupyeong-gap - Noh Jong-myeon, former YTN reporter ▲ Ulsan Nam-gap - Jeon Eun-soo, lawyer ▲ Busan Saha-eul - Lee Jae-sung, former executive director of NCSoft were each assigned. Chairman Ahn explained the background for selecting these candidates, saying, "They have very deep ties to their regions and possess talents in those areas," and "We prioritized strategic nominations for those closely related to their birthplaces."

Chairman Ahn also said, "Since the election is approaching, we plan to accelerate the approval of strategic nomination candidates in earnest."

However, when asked about the Seoul Jung-Seongdong-gap district, where former Blue House Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok declared his candidacy, he drew a line, saying, "There has been no discussion." He added, "It is still too early to judge whether he is a so-called 'appropriate' figure," and "If it officially comes to the discussion table, we will discuss it in depth." Inside and outside the party, there are concerns about factional conflicts between pro-Moon and pro-Myeong factions regarding Lim's nomination.

Additionally, Chairman Ahn was reserved about individuals mentioned as strategic nomination candidates, such as former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, who expressed her intention to run in the general election, former lawmaker Jeon Hyun-hee, who declared candidacy in Seoul Jongno-gu, and former National Assembly Secretary-General Lee Kwang-jae, stating, "They have not been discussed yet."

Meanwhile, the Strategic Nomination Committee is discussing the strategic nomination of recruited talent No. 1, lawyer Park Ji-hye, in Gyeonggi Uijeongbu-gap. This district was designated as a strategic electoral district after incumbent lawmaker Oh Young-hwan announced he would not run. The decision on strategic nomination is expected to be finalized at a meeting as early as next week.

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