Democratic Party Finalizes Nominations for Hanam-gap, Pyeongtaek-eul, Ansan-gap

The Democratic Party has nominated former Gangwon Province Governor Lee Kwang-jae for Hanam-gap, former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam for Pyeongtaek-eul, and former lawmaker Kim Nam-guk for Ansan-gap as candidates for the April 10 parliamentary by-elections and re-elections.

Lee Kwang-jae, a former three-term lawmaker and former provincial governor, was assessed as the most suitable candidate to resolve local national projects such as the GTX extension. Kang Joon-hyun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, added that Lee has a high understanding of metropolitan area issues and experience in winning in conservative strongholds.

Regarding Kim Nam-guk, nominated for Ansan-gap, it was explained that he has worked until recently as a Special Advisor for National Digital Communication in the Presidential Secretariat, understanding and communicating state philosophy. It was noted that Kim possesses immediate combat readiness based on his past experience as a National Assembly member representing the Ansan area.

The nomination of Kim Yong-nam for Pyeongtaek-eul was not decided with a specific opponent in mind, but rather because Kim's rationality and reformist character were deemed a good fit for the region's characteristics, according to Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's Secretary-General.

Kim Yong, former vice president of the Democratic Institute, who was widely considered a strong candidate, was excluded from this nomination round. Secretary-General Cho explained that it was appropriate to exclude him after comprehensively considering the impact on local elections and general by-elections. Kim is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling after receiving a five-year prison sentence in the first and second trials for alleged bribery related to the Daejang-dong development project.