The People Power Party's (PPP) nomination committee announced that 25 candidates, including former Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook, and former Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-sik, have applied for candidacy in nine by-elections to be held alongside the June 3 local elections.
The party's nomination committee said the applications were received from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day. By region, four candidates applied for Ulsan Nam-A, six for Gyeonggi Hanam-A, and seven for Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, signaling fierce primary competition.
In Dalseong-gun, Daegu, where a by-election will be held following the resignation of Daegu mayoral candidate Choo Kyung-ho from his National Assembly seat, two candidates applied: former KCC Commissioner Lee Jin-sook, who had been cut off from the Daegu mayoral primary, and Eom Gi-yeon, chairwoman of the PPP Jung-Seongdong B women's committee.
In Busan Buk-A, where former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, who was expelled from the party, declared an independent bid, two candidates applied for nomination: former Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-sik and former KBS reporter Lee Young-pung.
In Ulsan Nam-A, a conservative stronghold, four candidates submitted applications: Kim Tae-gyu, chairman of the Ulsan Nam-A district committee and former vice chairman of the KCC; Lee Jung-hoon, a Ulsan Nam-gu council member; Kim Jun-gyo, former Liberty Korea Party youth supreme council candidate; and attorney Choi Gun.
Seven candidates applied for Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong. They include former National Assembly Vice Speaker Chung Jin-suk, who served five terms in the region and headed the presidential office under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration; Yoon Yong-geun, chairman of the Gyeonggi Seongnam Jungwon district committee who was appointed as the party's media spokesperson under leader Jang Dong-hyuk; Kim Hyuk-jong, former chief of staff to the South Chungcheong governor; So Jeong-im, vice chairwoman of the PPP finance committee; Oh Byeong-ju, former vice minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Yoon Min-ah, former secretary at the Prime Minister's Office; and Lee Chung-hee, former chairman of the Gongju Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council.
Six candidates registered for Gyeonggi Hanam-A. They include former lawmaker Lee Yong, who faced off against Democratic Party candidate Choo Mi-ae in the region during the last general election; Kim Ki-yoon, vice chairman of the PPP legal advisory committee; former lawmaker Kim Hwang-sik; former lawmaker Yoo Sung-geun; writer Jeong Dong-hee; and one candidate who did not disclose their name.
In Incheon Yeonsu-A, two candidates applied for nomination, including Jung Seung-yeon, chairman of the Incheon Yeonsu-A district committee. In Incheon Gyeyang-B, no additional applicants came forward after one person applied privately on the 28th.
In Seogwipo, Jeju, Go Gi-cheol, chairman of the Jeju provincial party, was the sole applicant, while in Gwangju Gwangsan-B, Ahn Tae-wook, former chairman of the Gwangju city party, registered alone.
The nomination committee plans to begin interview reviews on May 1 and finalize candidates after a comprehensive review of documents and interview results. The party aims to complete the by-election nominations by May 5.
Meanwhile, in additional applications for metropolitan mayoral candidates, party media spokesperson Lee Min-sung applied for the Gyeonggi Siheung mayoral candidacy but later withdrew. No additional applicants came forward for the Jeonju mayoral candidacy in North Jeolla Province.
