GOP Picks Chapter Heads in North, South Gyeongsang; Ulsan Race Murky

With the People Power Party's national convention on the horizon, the selection process for chapter heads has seen appointments in North and South Gyeongsang provinces finalized around incumbent lawmakers, while the list of potential candidates in Ulsan varies depending on whether the incumbent seeks another term. As appointments in key Yeongnam regions like Busan and Daegu enter their final stages, Gyeonggi Province is bracing for a factional showdown between pro- and anti-leadership camps, highlighting varying dynamics across different regions.

In Gyeonggi Province, which boasts the largest party membership, Supreme Council member Cho Kwang-han—a close ally of Han Dong-hoon—officially declared his candidacy for provincial party chairman during a briefing at the National Assembly on the 15th, signaling an impending power struggle.

Incumbent lawmakers in the Gyeonggi region have reportedly agreed to back second-term Rep. Kim Eun-hye as the candidate for the next provincial party chairmanship. A close associate of Rep. Kim stated that she has firmed up her resolve to run, regardless of Supreme Council member Cho's candidacy.