The Democratic Party of Korea selected Rep. Park Soo-hyun as its candidate for South Chungcheong governor in the June 3 local elections on Thursday.
So Byung-hoon, chair of the party's central election management committee, announced the runoff results at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Park defeated rival Yang Seung-jo in the runoff held from January 13 to 15. The runoff was conducted through voting by registered party members (50%) and secure number voter panels (50%). The election committee did not disclose the vote percentages for each candidate in accordance with party rules.
Park will face incumbent South Chungcheong Governor Kim Tae-heum of the People Power Party, whose nomination was confirmed earlier. With both major parties' candidates for South Chungcheong governor now set, eight metropolitan and provincial governor races in the June 3 local elections have complete matchups between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party.
Born in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Park is a two-term lawmaker with extensive experience as a spokesperson. He served as presidential spokesperson and senior secretary for public communication under the Moon Jae-in administration. He stepped down from his position as the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson to run in the race.
Yang, who won the South Chungcheong governorship in 2018 but lost to Kim in 2022, sought revenge after four years but failed to clear the runoff hurdle.
