Ulsan Mayor Race: Unification Talks Stall Amid Party Disputes

With just four days left until the early voting for the June 3 local elections, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party found themselves on the verge of collapsing unification talks for the Ulsan mayoral candidacy on the 25th, due to disagreements over resuming the public opinion poll.

The Democratic Party demanded a resumption of the poll, including clauses to prevent "reverse selection," arguing that supporters of the People Power Party had influenced the results. Kim Sang-wook, the Democratic Party candidate, stated on YTN Radio on the 25th, "The distortion occurred because supporters of the People Power Party (participated in the poll and) selected candidates from the Democratic/Progressive camp favorable to the People Power Party." Jo Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's Secretary-General, also stated at a press conference at the National Assembly, "We cannot tolerate a structure where supporters of the People Power Party decide the unified candidate. Reverse selection prevention clauses are usually included in unification polls. Let's supplement that part," he argued.

In contrast, the Progressive Party protested this move, calling it a violation of fair primary principles and a unilateral disruption. Shin Chang-hyun, the Progressive Party's Secretary-General, declared at a press conference at the National Assembly, "This is an act that severely undermines the basic democratic principle of fair primaries. You should have requested (supplementation) before the poll; we cannot overlook the violent and unilateral suspension and disruption that occurred a day later." Kim Jong-hoon, the Progressive Party candidate, also held a press conference, stating, "We will await an apology from Candidate Kim's side for the disruption of the unification primary and an explanation regarding suspicions of interference in the poll results."