Ha Jung-woo on Track to Run in Busan Buk-gu-gap... Democratic Party Says Lee Will Accept His Resignation

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\r\n[The Financial News] Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI future planning at Cheong Wa Dae, is moving toward running in the by-election for the Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency after being persuaded by Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae. The shift follows Jung's remarks that he had won Ha over, as well as the party's disclosure that Ha had expressed his intention to resign.
At a field Supreme Council meeting in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on the 27th, Jung said, "Last night, after finishing the opening ceremony for Kim Boo-kyum's campaign office in Daegu, I came up to Seoul and had dinner with Senior Secretary Ha." He added, "We spent about two hours over dinner. Isn't Ha the architect of the policy to make Korea one of the world's top three AI powers? I urged him to make up his mind, saying that this plan should be completed through legislation in the National Assembly."
Jung and other Democratic Party leaders have been trying to persuade Ha to run in the Busan Buk-gu-gap by-election. The seat is being contested after Jeon Jae-su of the Democratic Party decided to run in the Busan mayoral race.
Jung said, "As a native of Buk District, Busan, and a six-year junior of candidate Jeon Jae-su at Gudeok High School, I told him he would be the perfect lawmaker to inherit and develop Jeon's district. I also asked him to become a driving force behind victory in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region." He added, "He said he would go home and think about it. I think I will be able to bring you good news."
On the same day, Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae said after announcing the party's strategic nomination results for by-elections in Gyeonggi Province, "Jung and Senior Secretary Ha had one last conversation about his candidacy. Ha has submitted his resignation to President Lee, and I understand it will be accepted soon. The process for joining the party and other steps to recruit talent will follow." His remarks effectively signaled that Ha would proceed with the candidacy process.
If Ha's candidacy is formalized, the Busan Buk-gu-gap race will become a three-way contest among the People Power Party candidate, Han Dong-hoon running as an independent, and Ha. The People Power Party nominee has yet to be decided, but former MPVA Minister Park Min-shik is widely seen as the likely candidate. Key variables include how much support Ha can draw as Jeon Jae-su's successor in Busan, and whether Park and Han can agree on a unified conservative candidate.
It was also reported that Jeon Eun-su, a spokesperson at Cheong Wa Dae, submitted her resignation to run in the by-election alongside Ha. She is said to be preparing for the by-election in Asan Eul, which was left vacant by Kang Hoon-sik's resignation from the National Assembly seat after becoming chief of staff to the president. As a result, many in the ruling camp expect that after the 29th, when lawmakers running for mayoral and other metropolitan government posts resign en masse, the party membership and nomination procedures for Ha, Jeon, and others will begin.
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uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yoon-ho Reporter