Minjoo, Lee Gae-ho, Jeong Cheong-rae, Seo Young-kyo and 17 Incumbents Receive Massive Single Candidacy Nominations (Update)

The Democratic Party's Nomination Management Committee announced four primary election districts, including Gwangju Seo-gu Gap and Daejeon Daedeok-gu, as well as 17 uncontested districts. While lawmakers classified as the so-called 'Pro-Myeong faction,' including the Policy Committee Chair and two Supreme Council members, received uncontested nominations in large numbers, the so-called anti-Myeong faction had to compete in primaries, making it impossible to avoid controversy over 'unfair nominations.'

On the afternoon of the 25th, Im Hyuk-baek, Chair of the Democratic Party's Nomination Management Committee, announced the results of the 7th round of nominations at the party headquarters. According to the screening results, Seo Young-kyo, Supreme Council member, was uncontestedly nominated in Jungnang-gu Gap, Seoul; Jeong Cheong-rae, Supreme Council member, in Mapo-gu Gap; and Lee Gae-ho, Policy Committee Chair, in Damyang-gun, Hampyeong-gun, Yeonggwang-gun, and Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Lim Hyuk-baek, the Chair of the Nomination Management Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is announcing the results of the candidate screening on the 25th at the Democratic Party of Korea Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Additionally, uncontested nominations were announced for Representative Yoo Dong-su in Gyeyang-gu Gap, Incheon; Representative Kim Seung-won in Suwon-si Gap, Gyeonggi; Representative Baek Hye-ryun in Suwon-si Eul; and Representative Kim Young-jin in Suwon-si Byeong. Chair Im added, "Together with Yeom Tae-young, the already nominated candidate for Suwon-si Mu, the four candidates will unite to lead the Suwon city election."

Furthermore, uncontested nominations were made for Representative Kim Tae-nyeon in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi; Representative Kang Deuk-gu in Manan-gu, Anyang-si; Representative Min Byung-duk in Dongan-gu Gap, Anyang-si; Representative Lee Jae-jung in Dongan-gu Eul, Anyang-si; Representative Han Jun-ho in Goyang-si Eul; Representative Kim Yong-min in Namyangju-si Byeong; Representative Moon Jeong-bok in Siheung-si Gap; Representative Kwon Chil-seung in Hwaseong-si Byeong; Representative Kim Han-gyu in Jeju-si Eul, Jeju; and Representative Wi Seong-gon in Seogwipo-si as sole candidates.

Primary election districts were designated as Gwangju Seo-gu Gap, Daejeon Daedeok-gu, Goyang-si Jeong, Gyeonggi, and Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk. In Gwangju Seo-gu Gap, incumbent Representative Song Gap-seok will face former Gwangju Metropolitan City Culture and Economy Deputy Mayor Jo In-cheol. In Daejeon Daedeok-gu, incumbent Representative Park Young-soon will compete against Park Jeong-hyun, a nominated Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party. Representative Lee Yong-woo of Goyang-si Jeong will face former Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member Kim Young-hwan, and Representative Do Jong-hwan of Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, will compete against former Deputy Director Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Policy Research Institute. Representatives Song Gap-seok and Park Young-soon have previously disclosed that they were notified of being in the bottom 20% and bottom 10%, respectively, in the Democratic Party's incumbent evaluation.

In a Q&A session immediately following the announcement, Chair Im responded to a reporter's question asking, "Isn't the principle that primaries are not held in the Honam region?" by stating, "According to Special Party Rule Article 16, if a single candidate runs or if the gap with the opposing candidate exceeds about 30%, an uncontested nomination can be selected." Regarding the criticism that almost all lawmakers called 'Pro-Myeong' received uncontested nominations, he said, "There was no special consideration," adding, "It seems that many cases were uncontested nominations."

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