Chung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has hinted at the possibility of a strategic nomination for former Gangwon Governor Lee Kwang-jae in the by-elections to be held alongside the June 3 local elections. He also named attorney Jeon Tae-jin as the party's first nominee for the Ulsan Nam-A constituency.
At a press briefing on the 20th, Chung said, "Those eligible for strategic nomination will be individuals who command high trust within the party and have demonstrated dedication by putting the party before themselves." He added, "For example, former Governor Lee, despite being a strong candidate for Gangwon governor, showed a spirit of putting the party first by yielding to candidate Woo Sang-ho."
Chung further said, "I believe he would be highly competitive even if he runs in one of the areas that have recently emerged as 'hot places.' We are reviewing this internally." Within political circles, there has been discussion about the possibility of nominating former Governor Lee for the Pyeongtaek-B constituency in Gyeonggi Province.
Chung also signaled the possibility of a strategic nomination for former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who recently rejoined the party, saying he was "keeping him in mind."
Meanwhile, Chung said, "We plan to nominate attorney Jeon, our first recruited talent, for the Ulsan Nam-A seat, which will become vacant following the resignation of Rep. Kim Sang-wook." The Democratic Party plans to finalize Jeon's nomination through procedures including approval by the Supreme Council and the Party Affairs Committee.
"There isn't much time left. We have a general outline in place," Chung said. "We will make nominations as quickly as lightning."
