Ruling and Opposition Parties in a Dilemma Over Fielding Rivals to Cho Kuk and Han Dong-hoon

As political heavyweights and potential presidential contenders Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party (PPP), and Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, enter the race, the political landscape in their constituencies is becoming increasingly complex. In turn, the electoral calculations of the two major parties are starting to resemble a higher-order equation. The Democratic Party of Korea is reportedly planning to field its own candidate regardless of Cho’s participation, while within the PPP a debate continues over whether the party should field no candidate at all.
According to political sources on the 15th, the Democratic Party of Korea and the PPP are struggling with how to position themselves vis-à-vis former PPP leader Han, who abruptly declared his candidacy in the Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency, and Cho, who did the same in the Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi constituency, for the June 3 parliamentary by-elections. Forming an electoral alliance through a single-candidate deal or by fielding no candidate risks backlash from hardline party members, yet putting up their own candidates would significantly reduce their chances of victory.
■ PPP torn between alliance with Han Dong-hoon and fielding no candidate
Within the PPP, some lawmakers from the Busan area and figures close to Han are repeatedly arguing that the party should not field its own candidate in the Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency.
For the first time, calls for an alliance with Han were also voiced within the party’s parliamentary leadership on this day. Kwak Kyu-taek, lawmaker for the Busan Seo-gu–Dong-gu constituency and chief spokesperson for the PPP’s parliamentary caucus, appeared on Channel A’s "Kim Jin's Fastball Show" and said, "If former leader Han runs in Busan Buk-gu-gap, it will greatly help the Busan mayoral election." He added, "To create an opportunity to form a one-on-one race against the Democratic Party of Korea candidate through internal competition, the party leadership should withdraw Han’s expulsion." As party leader Jang Dong-hyeok is away on a five-night, seven-day trip to the United States, full-fledged discussions have yet to take place. Even so, the party leadership continues to take a negative stance on both fielding no candidate and reversing Han’s expulsion. PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok stated, "If by-elections are held, as the largest opposition party we must fulfill our responsibility as a public political party."
Currently, former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik is being mentioned as a potential PPP candidate for Busan Buk-gu-gap. At the same time, there is even speculation about an "assassin-style nomination" involving figures such as Supreme Council member Kim Min-su and Ethics Committee Chair Yoon Min-woo.
■ A complex equation of Democratic Party–Cho Kuk–progressive camp alliance
The Democratic Party of Korea is facing a similar dilemma over an electoral alliance. Cho has announced his candidacy in the Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi constituency, where a five- or six-way race is expected. The Democratic Party has yet to finalize its candidate, but if it fields one and that person faces Cho in Pyeongtaek-eul, it is virtually certain that votes from progressive-leaning voters will be split.
In Pyeongtaek-eul, Progressive Party standing representative Kim Jae-yeon is also running, further complicating relations between the two parties. The Progressive Party entered the National Assembly in the last 22nd general election through the Democratic Alliance of Korea formed with the Democratic Party of Korea. Because the Progressive Party enjoys strong support from workers in Ulsan Metropolitan City, whether Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-wook and Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hoon unify behind a single candidate in the Ulsan mayoral race could also affect the outcome in Pyeongtaek-eul.
For now, the Democratic Party leadership is proceeding with the process of selecting a candidate for Pyeongtaek-eul. Kim Yong, former vice president of the Institute for Democracy and a close confidant of President Lee Jae-myung, is being mentioned as a possible contender. To improve its chances of winning, the party would need either a single-candidate consolidation or to field no candidate. However, given the likely backlash from hardline supporters, the probability that the party will nominate its own candidate remains high.
Beyond Pyeongtaek-eul, some argue that an alliance with the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party is necessary when the elections are viewed on a nationwide scale. One Democratic Party lawmaker told The Financial News, "An alliance and cooperation with Cho are necessary," adding, "First, we need to see who ends up being nominated as the candidate in Pyeongtaek-eul."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter