Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, leaves after a briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
While the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) continues to list candidates for the June local and by-elections, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is struggling to field contenders, relying on old guards amid internal disputes and a declining support rate.
With just 40 days remaining, the PPP has yet to finalize its candidates for key mayoral and by-election races, including in Gyeonggi Province and Busan, the country’s second-largest city, as of Friday. The conservative party is also showing signs of polarization over Chairman Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok’s leadership, with growing calls for his resignation.
For the by-election for the parliamentary seat in Pyeongtaek B, Gyeonggi Province, political heavyweights have gathered. Minor Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, Jinbo Party leader Kim Jae-yeon and former acting president and conservative party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn have all announced their bids. The PPP, however, has yet to field a candidate.
While Choo Mi-ae, a former justice minister and six-term lawmaker, has been actively campaigning as the DPK candidate in the Gyeonggi gubernatorial race since April 7, the PPP remains effectively empty-handed, fielding three unconventional primary contenders — Yang Hyang-ja, a former lawmaker; two-term lawmaker Ham Jin-gyu; and former MBC anchor Lee Seong-bae, none of whom is seen as a serious match for Choo.
Meanwhile, the PPP is bringing back old guards. The party said Yoon Gap-geun, a former member of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team, will be its candidate in the North Chungcheong Province gubernatorial race.
The Daegu mayoral primary was narrowed last week to a contest between Rep. Chu Kyung-ho, a key pro-Yoon figure who served as first deputy prime minister and finance minister in the Yoon administration, and Rep. Yoo Young-ha, a close confidant of impeached former President Park Geun-hye.
Nominated mayoral candidates lack fresh faces, with most drawn from incumbent chiefs and sitting lawmakers.
Including four-term Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the PPP has nominated incumbents in 10 of the country’s 16 metropolitan and provincial governments, which include Incheon, Gangwon Province, Daejeon City, Sejong City, South Chungcheong Province, North Gyeongsang Province, South Gyeongsang Province, Ulsan and Busan.
The situation is showing no signs of a breakthrough for the PPP. The polling numbers continue to fall to record-low levels.
Source: Korea Times News
