"Early Entry" by Oh Se-hoon and Park Hyung-joon... Head-to-Head Races in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu

On June 3, the 9th nationwide local elections will take place, and Oh Sehoon, the Seoul Mayor, and Park Hyungjun, the Busan Mayor-both nominated as the People Power Party candidates-are officially launching their election campaigns by registering as preliminary candidates on the 27th. They will face off against Jeong Wonoh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Mayor, and Jeon Jaesoo, the Democratic Party candidate for Busan Mayor, with Seoul and Busan emerging as the most hotly contested battlegrounds for metropolitan leadership. In another closely watched region, Daegu, the People Power Party has selected National Assemblyman Chu Kyungho as its candidate, setting up a head-to-head race against Kim Boo-kyum, the Democratic Party candidate for Daegu Mayor.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon (left) is touring the open civil service center and other citizen spaces in the lobby of Seoul City Hall with Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun, who visited Seoul City Hall on September 30, 2024, for a "Special Lecture Inviting Busan Mayor." Seoul City

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On this day, Mayor Oh visited a senior housing site in Jongam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, at 10 a.m. Starting at 12:30 p.m., he plans to depart from Seoul City Hall as a preliminary candidate for Seoul Mayor and walk with citizens to Bosingak. Afterwards, he will attend the Seoul Metropolitan Party’s "Victory Resolution Rally" events held in both Gangnam-gu and Seodaemun-gu. Mayor Park will begin his official campaign schedule by announcing his candidacy at a briefing room in the Busan Metropolitan Council at 2:30 p.m., and then visit Renault Korea in Gangseo-gu at 3:30 p.m.

Given that the official candidate registration period with the National Election Commission is set for the 14th and 15th of next month, this move is considered an "early start." By registering as a preliminary candidate, they gain greater freedom in election campaigning compared to when they are performing mayoral duties. Jeong Wonoh, after being confirmed as a candidate on the 9th, quickly established the "Chakchak Camp" and announced his policy pledges. On this day, he also held on-site meetings in Seocho and Yongsan, targeting Seoul voters. Jeon Jaesoo plans to resign from the National Assembly on the 29th and register as a preliminary candidate.

Both Mayor Oh and Mayor Park's camps are preparing to form independent election committees to distinguish themselves from the leadership team under Jang Donghyuk. Mayor Oh has laid the foundation for a centrist-expansion campaign committee by appointing Assemblywoman Park Sumin, his former primary competitor, and former Assemblywoman Yoon Heesook as co-chairs. Mayor Park has indicated the possibility of forming an alliance with Han Donghoon, the former party leader who is running in the Buk-gu Gap by-election in Busan.

The formation of a central-level campaign committee by the People Power Party has been facing difficulties. Song Eon-seok, the party’s floor leader, recently proposed the position of joint campaign committee chair to senior party members Kim Gi-hyeon, Na Kyung-won, and Ahn Cheol-soo, but has yet to receive a response. Park Sunghoon, the party’s chief spokesperson, stated, "Chairman Jang asked Floor Leader Song to recommend good candidates," adding, "As far as I know, he has not yet received a reply."

Meanwhile, the lineup for Daegu has been finalized as Assemblyman Chu was confirmed as the party’s mayoral candidate the previous day, completing the ruling and opposition party matchups. With Lee Jinsook, former Chairperson of the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission, and Ju Ho-young, a People Power Party lawmaker, both announcing they would not run for Daegu Mayor, the race is expected to shape up as a two-way contest. In a press conference, Candidate Chu stated, "Daegu’s economy is undergoing a structural crisis with its industrial base being shaken, so proven economic leadership is needed." Candidate Kim, on the same day, unveiled his third campaign pledge, which is based on a "KRW 3 trillion growth project for small businesses and neighborhood markets."

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