People Power Party Faces By-Election Shortage of Star Candidates; Park Min-shik and Han Dong-hoon Lock Horns in Busan

The People Power Party is struggling to recruit candidates for the June by-elections for the National Assembly. Most of the races are in districts held by Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers, and the outlook is difficult amid Lee Jae Myung's soaring approval ratings. In the relatively conservative Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency, Han Dong-hoon has entered the race as an independent, leaving the issue of unifying the conservative camp unresolved.
According to political sources on the 26th, by-elections will be held in 14 districts following invalidated election results, local government chief races, or presidential victories. They include Pyeongtaek-eul, Ansan Gap and Hanam-gap in Gyeonggi Province; Incheon Gyeyang-eul and Incheon Yeonsu A; Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang and Asan Eul in South Chungcheong Province; Gunsan-Gimje-Buan Gap in North Jeolla Province; Gwangju Gwangsan District Eul; Ulsan Nam-gu Gap constituency; Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency; Dalseong County, Daegu; and Seogwipo constituency in Jeju.
Among them, the only district previously held by the People Power Party is Dalseong County, Daegu, which was left vacant after Choo Kyung-ho was selected as a candidate for mayor of Daegu. The other 13 were Democratic Party of Korea districts, and with support for the party hovering near 50 percent on the back of Lee Jae Myung's popularity, few people are stepping forward to run under the People Power Party banner.
In Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency, Park Min-shik, former MPVA minister, is strongly signaling his intention to run. However, Han Dong-hoon entering the race early as an independent is a major variable. With party leader Jang Dong-hyuk strongly pushing to field a candidate, a conservative unification deal is expected later on. In a competitive district, a three-way race would likely hand the Democratic Party of Korea candidate an easy win. Park sharply criticized Han, calling him a "political parasite," and dismissed the idea of unification. Han, meanwhile, has avoided direct comment, leaving the door open.
Candidates such as Kim Min-kyung in Asan Eul, Kim Seok-hoon in Ansan Gap, and Oh Ji-seong in Gunsan-Gimje-Buan Gap have secured nominations, but they lack the name recognition needed to break Democratic Party of Korea strongholds. The most notable exception is Pyeongtaek-eul, where Yu Eui-dong, who served three consecutive terms through the 21st National Assembly, has entered the race. Even so, Pyeongtaek-eul is expected to be difficult to win, as Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party and a presidential-level figure, is likely to run as the unified candidate of the progressive bloc.
In Incheon Gyeyang-eul, Hanam-gap in Gyeonggi Province, and Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, there are calls to recruit presidential-level figures such as Kim Moon-soo, Yoo Seong-min, and Chung Jin-suk. However, it is reported that even with persuasion efforts from the party leadership, they have not been easy to convince. Hwang Woo-yea is expected to run in Incheon Yeonsu A.
In places such as Gwangju Gwangsan-eul, Gunsan-Gimje-Buan Gap in North Jeolla Province, and Seogwipo constituency, where Democratic Party of Korea support is strong, the People Power Party is not expected to win.
By contrast, many believe the People Power Party has a strong chance of winning Ulsan Nam-gu Gap constituency and Dalseong County, Daegu. Ulsan Nam-gu Gap was originally won by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Sang-wook when he was a People Power Party member, and in Daegu, there is a broad view that while mayoral races can swing back and forth, by-elections leave little room for the Democratic Party of Korea to break in. No clear names have yet emerged for Ulsan Nam-gu Gap, while Lee Jin-sook is widely seen as the leading contender for Dalseong County, Daegu.
uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yoon-ho Reporter