Cho Kuk Declares Candidacy in Pyeongtaek-eul, Progressive Party Protests

Upon Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, announcing his candidacy for the Pyeongtaek-eul constituency by-election on the 14th, the Progressive Party immediately protested, calling it a 'candidacy without a greater cause.' Pyeongtaek-eul is a district cultivated by Kim Jae-yeon, Standing Representative of the Progressive Party, and the party's reaction to Cho's decision to run has been reported. In the Q&A session, Cho, when asked about his relationship with the Progressive Party, clarified that he had never discussed an electoral alliance with Standing Representative Kim Jae-yeon nor received any proposals from the Progressive Party, stating he would engage in 'fair competition' with her. He also countered questions about his reasons for running by asking if there was any reason he shouldn't run when the Democratic Party was also fielding a candidate.

The Progressive Party criticized Cho Kuk's bid for Pyeongtaek-eul, with Standing Representative Kim Jae-yeon urging him to withdraw, stating, 'Withdraw your Pyeongtaek candidacy, which lacks both greater cause and justification.' Son Sol, Senior Spokesperson, evaluated it as a 'self-inflicted wound that undermines the alliance for purging internal dissent,' pointing out that an unnecessarily difficult district had been created.

The Progressive Party had attempted a strategic trade with the Democratic Party for the Pyeongtaek-eul constituency and the Ulsan mayoral election, amidst the simultaneous holding of the June 3 local elections and by-elections. The plan was for the Progressive Party to concede the Ulsan mayoral election to the Democratic Party candidate and secure the Democratic Party's concession in Pyeongtaek-eul for Standing Representative Kim Jae-yeon. However, concerns arose that Cho's candidacy could disrupt these plans.