13 Bye-Elections Set, Signaling Major Clash Between Han Dong-hoon and Cho Kuk

Approximately 13 National Assembly bye-elections are expected to be held alongside the June 3 Local Elections. Currently, 7 seats are virtually confirmed, and the number could increase further depending on incumbent lawmakers running in the local elections.

In particular, whether former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk will run is drawing significant attention.

The confirmed bye-election constituencies were initially 5: Incheon Gyeyang-eul, Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, Ansan-gap in Gyeonggi, Asan in South Chungcheong, and Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap in North Jeolla. However, with Democratic Party lawmakers Park Chan-dae and Kim Sang-wook selected as candidates for Incheon Mayor and Ulsan Mayor respectively, the total number of confirmed seats has risen to 7. The possibility of former lawmaker Song Young-gil and former presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon, an associate of President Lee Jae-myung, competing in Incheon Gyeyang-eul has also been raised. In Incheon Gyeyang-eul, People Power Party's Sim Sang-seop and Park Sang-gun have registered as preliminary candidates. For Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, preliminary candidates include People Power Party's Lee Jae-young, Yoo Ui-dong, and Lee Byeong-bae, Progressive Party's Kim Jae-yeon, and Liberty and Innovation Party's Hwang Kyo-ahn. In Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap in North Jeolla, People Power Party's Oh Ji-seong and former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom have declared their candidacies.

In Busan, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo and People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo are competing as candidates for Busan Mayor. If both are confirmed as their parties' nominees, bye-elections will be held in two constituencies within Busan. If lawmaker Joo Ho-young runs as an independent after being cut from the Daegu mayoral election primary, a bye-election could occur in Suseong-gap, Daegu.