Busan Incumbent Mayors Excluded from Elections in Party Shake-up

In a surprising turn of events within the People Power Party's nomination process for the upcoming local elections in Busan, two incumbent district mayors, Kim Ki-jae of Yeongdo District and Oh Eun-taek of Nam District, have been unceremoniously ousted. They will not even have the chance to compete in the primaries, a decision that has sent ripples of disbelief through the local political scene. The party's Busan chapter nomination committee announced on March 17th that Ahn Sung-min, the current Chairman of the Busan City Council, secured a sole nomination for Yeongdo District mayor, effectively ending Kim Ki-jae's bid for a second term. Similarly, Kim Kwang-myung, a former member of the Busan City Council, was given the sole nomination for Nam District mayor, bypassing Oh Eun-taek's re-election aspirations.

The rationale behind these exclusions remains a subject of intense speculation. While Ahn Sung-min's political weight as a four-term city councilor and his close ties to Rep. Jo Seung-hwan of the Jung-Yeongdo constituency are cited as factors, the exclusion of Kim Ki-jae, who is not embroiled in any legal battles or controversies, has particularly baffled observers. The same can be said for Oh Eun-taek. The People Power Party's decision to bypass primaries for these two incumbents, despite their lack of legal entanglements, has led to whispers that the party is orchestrating a 'renovation' in its candidate selection, even if it means sidelining established figures. This move has understandably drawn strong protests from the supporters of the excluded mayors.

From the perspective of Hankyoreh, this nomination process raises questions about fairness and transparency within the People Power Party. While parties have the prerogative to select their candidates, the abrupt exclusion of incumbents without a clear, publicly stated reason, especially when they are not facing legal challenges, invites scrutiny. The narrative of 'innovative' or 'renovated' nominations can sometimes mask internal power plays or strategic decisions that prioritize certain factions or individuals over established leadership. The backlash from the supporters of Kim Ki-jae and Oh Eun-taek underscores a potential disconnect between the party leadership's decisions and the sentiment on the ground.

Furthermore, the mention of close relationships with incumbent National Assembly members influencing these nominations suggests that traditional political networking and influence may still play a significant role, despite any rhetoric of reform. As Kim Ki-jae prepares to hold a press conference to state his position, the situation highlights the internal dynamics and potential power struggles within the People Power Party as it gears up for the local elections. The exclusion of these two mayors is not just a local Busan story; it reflects broader trends in candidate selection and the internal politics of major South Korean political parties.

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The Busan nomination management committee decided on sole nominations for Yeongdo District Mayor, Nam District Mayor, and Sasang District Mayor.