After losing the presidential election earlier this month, the Democratic Party of Korea is having trouble finding a candidate for Seoul's mayor in the next local elections, implying that the party would face even greater difficulties.
So yet, no Democratic Party official has declared candidacy for mayor, potentially reflecting the perception that the present mayor has the upper hand. Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, a conservative, is seeking re-election.
In terms of influence and public perception, Oh is a key figure inside the People Power Party, and he is widely seen as one of the strongest prospects to carry the party's banner in the next presidential election, set for 2027.
In the 2021 mayoral by-election, he defeated his Democratic Party opponent, Park Young-sun, with 57.5 percent of the vote to Park Young-39 sun's percent. It was a stark contrast to the parliamentary elections in 2020, when the Democratic Party swept Seoul, winning all but four districts.
Many heavyweights associated with the Seoul mayoral contest have already indicated they will not run in the local elections, making it difficult for the Democratic Party to find a figure with a credible possibility of turning the trend.
Park, like Rep. Woo Sang-ho, who ran against Park in the party primaries for Seoul mayor, is said to have stated that she will not run against Oh in the future election.
The party is now considering fielding conventional heavyweights to face Oh in June, with the goal of gaining popular support for a public figure with politically centrist views. Its officials feel that promoting a liberal agenda might backfire in Seoul, where the party is already under fire for increasing property costs.
The Seoul mayoral race has been linked to Rep. Song Young-Gil, former Democratic Party Chairman Lee Nak-yon, and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun, but Song is largely seen as the most probable choice to carry the party's banner in campaigning for the office.
Song has remained silent on the rumors, saying simply that the decision is up to the party. Song, according to some, is waiting for the party to officially request that he run before taking action.
Nonetheless, Rep. Yun Ho-Jung, chair of the Democratic Party's emergency steering committee, said the party is considering a variety of potential candidates, noting that Song isn't the only solution to the problem. Kim Dong-Yeon, the former Finance Minister, has also been considered a possible liberal contender.
Kim previously stated that he plans to merge his newly formed New Wave Party with the Democratic Party in order to run for local office under the liberal party's banner.
In a radio interview on Tuesday, Yun stated, "There are a few heavyweights who can bear the banner of the Democratic Party (in running for Seoul mayor)." "With all of these figures in mind, this is a subject that needs to be thoroughly considered."
The Democratic Party, on the other hand, is far from short of candidates for the Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial election, as three senior party heavyweights have already declared their candidacy. Primaries are being planned by the party.
Despite the poor overall result, the Democratic Party defeated the People Power Party in the presidential election in Gyeonggi Province, and the liberal party has a good chance of retaining the governorship.
Cho Jeong-sik and An Min-suk, both members of the House of Representatives, have announced their candidacy, as has Yeom Tae-young, the mayor of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The New Wave Party's Kim is also expected to run in the primaries.
Former Representative Yoo Seong-min of the People Power Party is widely expected to run for governor, and he is likely to make an official announcement this week.
Former Representatives Ham Jin-Gyu, Shim Jae-Chul, and Kim Yong-hwan have officially announced their candidacy for governor on behalf of the People Power Party. After the bids are approved, the conservative party is anticipated to have primaries to select its candidates.
