The Democratic Party of Korea's Incheon chapter has largely finalized its candidates for nine district mayoral races in the June 3 local elections. Seven candidates have been confirmed, while Namdong-gu and Geomdan-gu will proceed to runoffs.
Yoo Dong-soo, chairman of the chapter's election management committee, announced the results of the second round of primaries through a live broadcast on the YouTube channel Minju Incheon TV on Wednesday night. The primary was conducted as an open-participation contest, combining 50% weighting for party members and 50% for public opinion polls.
Five candidates were selected in the second round. In Yeongjong-gu, Son Hwa-jung, a former presidential office secretary, defeated candidate Park Kwang-un, while in Jemulpo-gu, Nam Gung-hyung, a former Incheon city councilor, beat Heo In-hwan, a former Dong-gu mayor. In Michuhol-gu, Kim Jung-sik, a former district mayor, edged out candidate Kim Sung-jun in a successful political comeback. In Gyeyang-gu, Park Hyung-woo, a former district mayor, won the nomination over Kim Kwang, a former presidential office secretary, and in Ongjin-gun, Jang Jung-min, a former county mayor, defeated candidate Kim Tae-jin to mount a return bid.
Four candidates had already been confirmed in the first round of primaries on the 12th. Incumbent Bupyeong-gu Mayor Cha Joon-taek, former Yeonsu-gu Council Chairman Jung Ji-yeol, former Seo-gu Facilities Management Corporation Chairman Koo Jae-yong, and Han Yeon-hee, head of the Ganghwa Future Development Movement Headquarters, secured tickets to the general election.
Namdong-gu and Geomdan-gu will hold runoffs after no candidate secured a majority. In Namdong-gu, former city councilors Lee Byung-rae and Park In-dong will face off in a rematch, while in Geomdan-gu, former Incheon city councilor Kim Jin-kyu will compete against former Seo-gu councilor Kang Nam-gyu.
