The Democratic Party of Korea has officially launched its nomination process for the June 3 local elections after notifying elected incumbent local government heads of their "bottom 20%" evaluation results. Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, who received the bottom 20% notification, pushed back, saying he would "file an appeal."
According to political sources on the 25th, the Democratic Party completed its evaluation of incumbent local government heads through the Central Party's Elected Officials Evaluation Committee and notified those in the bottom 20% on the 24th. The names of those affected are not disclosed to the public. Current incumbent metropolitan governors include Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, North Jeolla Governor Kim Kwan-young, South Jeolla Governor Kim Young-rok, Governor Oh, and Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung.
Those placed in the bottom 20% category face a 20% penalty each in the nomination screening and primary processes.
Governor Oh held a press conference at the Jeju Provincial Government Office that morning and stated, "I received notification from Nomination Management Committee Chairman Kim Yi-su that I am in the bottom 20% of elected officials. I will file an appeal immediately." He added, "I cannot accept this. I will file an appeal according to established procedures and will participate in the primary while respecting the principles and procedures set forth in the party constitution and rules."
However, he dismissed the possibility of leaving the party. "Whatever the outcome, I will not leave the party," he said.
The Democratic Party completed interview screenings for local election candidates on the 23rd and 24th and plans to finalize candidates as early as this week before entering full campaign mode. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae, who announced his candidacy for Seoul mayor, appeared on KBS's "Breaking News" program that day and said, "The party plans to finalize and announce the candidates within this week."