As key aides of the Lee Jae-myung administration enter the parliamentary by-elections to be held alongside the June 3 local elections, the electoral landscape between the ruling and opposition parties is rapidly taking shape. The ruling Democratic Party's strategy is to deploy close confidants of President Lee Jae-myung, who continues to enjoy high approval ratings, to boost its chances of victory and sustain governing momentum.
Amid a candidate shortage, the conservative camp is pinning hopes on the parliamentary debut of Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party. With heavyweight figures such as Han and Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, entering the race, the by-elections are expected to serve as a test of the next political landscape.
According to political sources on Tuesday, nine incumbent lawmakers running as metropolitan mayor candidates in the June local elections simultaneously resigned their seats that day, bringing the total number of parliamentary by-election districts to 14 nationwide. With nine new districts (Hanam-gap in Gyeonggi, Yeonsu-gap in Incheon, Buk-gap in Busan, Nam-gap in Ulsan, Gwangsan-eul in Gwangju, Seogwipo in Jeju, Dalseong in Daegu, Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-eul in North Jeolla, and Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong) added to the existing five (Gyeyang-eul in Incheon, Asan-eul in South Chungcheong, Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, Ansan-gap in Gyeonggi, and Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap in North Jeolla), the by-elections have grown to "mini general election" scale.
The Democratic Party has been accelerating strategic nominations through talent recruitment, internal promotions, and party reshuffling. Ha Jung-woo, former senior presidential secretary for AI and future planning, and Jeon Eun-soo, former presidential spokesperson, officially announced their by-election bids at the party's second talent recruitment ceremony held at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Ha is expected to run in Busan Buk-gap, while Jeon will run in Asan-eul in South Chungcheong. Together with Kim Nam-joon, former presidential spokesperson (Gyeyang-eul in Incheon), and Kim Nam-gook, former presidential secretary for digital communications (Ansan-gap in Gyeonggi), who had earlier secured Democratic Party nominations, the so-called "Blue House Four" are aiming to enter the National Assembly.
The Democratic Party's decision to field these figures is seen as an attempt to capitalize on the president's high approval ratings to improve its electoral prospects. With the Democratic Party holding 13 of the 14 by-election districts, defending its seats is a key task. Buk-gap is particularly significant, as it was the only one of Busan's 18 districts where a Democratic Party candidate won in the 2024 general election, making it a seat the party is determined to defend.
Party leader Jung Chung-rae praised Ha, saying, "As someone who knows his hometown better than anyone, he is a prepared problem solver who can address Busan's issues most clearly." He added, "I expect him to complete his vision for an AI powerhouse, which existed in 'Ha GPT's' mind, by enacting it into law in the National Assembly." Ha pledged, "The vision of a maritime capital and the manufacturing miracle that created the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam economic miracle will meet AI to create a new future. I will return to the warm embrace of my mother, sister, brother, and friends, and surely achieve the development of my hometown Busan."
Buk-gap has emerged as a district of national interest, as Ha faces off against Han, who is seeking his first parliamentary seat. With former Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-sik also mentioned as a potential People Power Party candidate, a three-way race is anticipated. Within the People Power Party, there is both anticipation for a "Han Dong-hoon effect" — in which conservative voters rally behind Han's candidacy, energizing the overall election — and calls for the party to forgo fielding a candidate in Buk-gap. People Power Party lawmaker Song Seok-jun appeared on MBC's "News Today" on Tuesday and said regarding an alliance with Han, who is running as an independent, "It would be the best approach if (the People Power Party) does not field a candidate."
In Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, which has emerged as the biggest battleground, whether candidates unify will be the decisive last-minute variable. The district has become a tight jockeying contest with pan-progressive candidates including Cho, Kim Yong-nam, a former Democratic Party lawmaker from a conservative background, and Kim Jae-yeon, standing leader of the Progressive Party. With conservative candidates including former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Eui-dong and Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation Party, also joining the race, a five-way contest has been established. Kang Jun-hyun, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, said, "There seems to be talk of unification in Pyeongtaek-eul, but now is not the time to discuss it. We will do our best to elect the Democratic Party candidate. Our party's position is clear."
The People Power Party is struggling with a severe candidate shortage in the by-elections, following similar difficulties in the June 3 local elections. Of the 14 confirmed by-election districts so far, the party has finalized single-candidate nominations in only four districts, including Pyeongtaek-eul (former lawmaker Yoo Eui-dong) and Ansan-gap (Kim Seok-hoon, former chairman of the Ansan City Council). For the remaining districts, the party plans to confirm candidates through primaries by May 5, but in many areas, it has yet to secure even a single applicant. While many of the by-election districts are held by incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers and are seen as "recapture opportunities," the party is struggling to secure competitive candidates as applicants feel burdened about running in unfavorable territory.
