'Unbeatable Incumbents' Yeo Jo Jeonghun, Lee Inseon, Jo Seunghwan, Shim Jaecheol Advance to Finals

Jung Young-hwan, Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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The 'incumbent undefeated' streak continues in the People Power Party's April 10 general election primary. Legislators Jo Jeonghun and Lee Inseon have secured their spots in the main election, with incumbent Lee Inseon winning the primary in Daegu.

The party's nomination management committee announced the results of the primaries held in 16 constituencies on the 1st.

Legislator Jo won against former lawmaker Shin Jiho in Seoul Mapo Gap. Jo, a proportional representation member, was originally affiliated with the Transition Korea party, classified as a pan-opposition party, but became a member of the People Power Party last year when the party merged with Transition Korea.

Mapo Gap attracted attention as a four-way contest between former and current lawmakers, including Lee Yongho and Choi Seungjae, besides the two. Later, Lee moved his constituency to Seoul Seodaemun Gap and received the nomination, while Choi moved to Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong Gap but recently withdrew from the primary.

First-term legislator Lee Inseon won the primary in Daegu Suseong against Kim Daesik, former special committee member for the Youth Political Era of the Presidential Committee for National Unity. In Busan Jung-Yeongdo, a face-off between former cabinet members, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seunghwan defeated former Prime Minister’s Secretary Park Seonggeun.

In Gyeonggi Gimpo Gap, former party committee chairman Park Jinho won. Born in 1990, Park is the youngest (34 years old) among the People Power Party candidates confirmed so far. Former lawmakers Shim Jaecheol (Gyeonggi Anyang Dongan-eul), Kim Sumin (Chungbuk Cheongju Cheongwon), and Park Daedong (Ulsan Buk-gu) also won their primaries and secured nominations.

Among former aides from Yongsan, Kim Bohyeon (Gyeonggi Gimpo Gap), former senior administrative officer at the Presidential Office, and Jeon Jihyun (Gyeonggi Guri), former administrative officer, both lost.

Additionally, nominations were confirmed in Seoul Eunpyeong Gap (Hong Injeong), Daejeon Seo-gu Gap (Jo Suyeon), Seo-gu Eul (Yang Honggyu), Gyeonggi Guri (Na Taegun), and Chungnam Nonsan-Gyeryong-Geumsan (Park Seonggyu). Runoffs will be held in three constituencies: Incheon Namdong Gap (Son Beomgyu, Jeon Seongsik), Gyeonggi Namyangju Gap (Shim Jangsu, Yoo Nakjun), and Chungbuk Cheongju Heungdeok (Kim Dongwon, Song Taeyoung).

Among the 16 constituencies announced that day, only two incumbents challenged, and all advanced to the main election without elimination, continuing the trend of 'incumbent strength.'

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