Ruling Party Completes By-Election Nominations in Gyeonggi and Incheon... Finalization by Early May at the Latest

by Ji Hyejin

Published 28 Apr.2026 11:01(KST)

Updated 28 Apr.2026 11:35(KST)

Ha Jungwoo and Jeon Eunsu to Be Recruited and Announced on April 29

The Democratic Party of Korea has completed candidate nominations for the Seoul metropolitan area in the by-elections that will be held alongside the nationwide local elections on June 3. This week, the party is expected to accelerate its nomination process by adding Ha Jungwoo, Presidential Secretary for AI (Artificial Intelligence) Future Planning, and former spokesperson Jeon Eunsu. By doing so, the party aims to finish assigning candidates ahead of the main opposition People Power Party.

On the 29th, the Democratic Party plans to announce its nomination plans for Secretary Ha (Busan Buk-gap) and former spokesperson Jeon (Cheonan Asan-eul). With these two nominations, the party will have effectively finalized candidates for 8 out of the 14 constituencies in the upcoming by-elections, which is more than half. As of the previous day, nominations had already been completed for the following districts: in Incheon, Gyeyang-eul (Kim Namjun) and Yeonsu-gap (Song Younggil); in Gyeonggi Province, Hanam-gap (Lee Kwangjae), Ansan-gap (Kim Namguk), and Pyeongtaek-eul (Kim Yongnam). Jeon Taejin, the first talent recruited specifically for the local elections, has been nominated for Ulsan Nam-gap.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyunwoo = Democratic Party Chief Spokesperson Joonhyun Kang is announcing the results of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee meeting at the National Assembly on the 23rd.

The party intends to announce candidates for the remaining six districts immediately once a consensus is reached within the leadership and the Strategic Nomination Management Committee. In Seogwipo, Jeju, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Seongbeom is considered the leading candidate. In Dalseong, Daegu, either former lawmaker Hong Uirak or Park Hyeongryong, the local party chair, is being considered. For Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, the party is still deliberating. The Democratic Party's legal team has requested an interpretation from the National Election Commission, asking for a ruling that would allow former Buyeo County Governor Park Junghyun to be nominated as a candidate even if he does not meet the “120-day resignation rule,” on the grounds that it is difficult to predict whether a by-election will be held.

For Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap in North Jeolla Province, former lawmaker Kim Uigyeom, North Jeolla Provincial Assembly Chair Moon Seungwoo, and Democratic Party spokesperson Jeon Sumi are being considered. For Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-eul, Supreme Council member Park Jiweon and former Blue House senior administrative officer Lee Kwangsu are under review. In Gwangsan-eul, Gwangju, potential candidates include Kang Wion, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of South Jeolla Province, although there is also speculation that a former central government official may be appointed.