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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Ulsan Mayoral Race Unification Revived; Gyeongnam Governor Race Set for Two-Way Contest

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • The Democratic Party and the Progressive Party have dramatically revived their stalled negotiations for a unified candidate in the upcoming Ulsan mayoral election.
  • Both parties agreed to conduct a one-day poll on May 28th to select a single candidate, incorporating measures to prevent 'reverse selection'.
  • In the Gyeongnam gubernatorial race, the Progressive Party's candidate withdrew and endorsed the Democratic Party's candidate, leading to a two-way contest.

After a dramatic near-collapse, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party have resurrected their efforts to field a single candidate for the Ulsan mayoral election, just one day before early voting begins.

The two parties agreed to a last-minute decision to hold a one-day opinion poll on May 28th to determine their unified candidate. This poll will include measures designed to prevent 'reverse selection,' a tactic where supporters of opposing parties strategically vote in a primary to influence the outcome.

I have thought and thought about it. I feel the desperate need to prevent continued conflict and discord within the Democratic and Progressive camps.

· Kim Jong-hoonProgressive Party Ulsan mayoral candidate, explaining his decision to accept a re-poll for candidate unification.

This agreement follows a period of intense negotiation and a temporary halt. The Democratic Party had previously suspended the poll, citing concerns over the Progressive Party's refusal to include anti-reverse selection clauses. However, a breakthrough was achieved, with the Progressive Party's Ulsan mayoral candidate, Kim Jong-hoon, agreeing to a re-poll, emphasizing the need to avoid prolonged conflict within the progressive bloc.

I am grateful for Candidate Kim Jong-hoon's courageous decision.

· Kim Sang-wookDemocratic Party Ulsan mayoral candidate, responding to the agreement for a re-poll.

Meanwhile, in the Gyeongnam gubernatorial election, a similar unification effort succeeded. Jeon Hee-young, the Progressive Party's candidate, announced her withdrawal and declared support for the Democratic Party's Kim Kyung-soo, effectively creating a two-way race against the People Power Party's Park Wan-soo.

The Ulsan mayoral race is now set for a head-to-head contest between the unified Democratic-Progressive candidate and Kim Du-gyeom of the People Power Party. However, lingering internal dissent within the Progressive Party over the handling of the poll negotiations could potentially dampen the effectiveness of this late unification.

We offer our deep apologies for the bewilderment and shock that the leadership and members of the Progressive Party must have felt due to the suspension of the unification talks.

· Jo Seung-raeDemocratic Party Secretary-General, apologizing to the Progressive Party.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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