The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, June 30, 2022 | 01:38
Politics
Presidential race expected to heat up after this week's by-elections
Posted : 2021-04-05 17:53
Updated : 2021-04-05 20:46
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presides over the Central Disease Control Headquarters' meeting to discuss the government's measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic at the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presides over the Central Disease Control Headquarters' meeting to discuss the government's measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic at the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

The race for the next presidential election, set to be held in March 2022, is expected to heat up after Wednesday's by-elections, which includes mayoral elections for the country's two largest cities, Seoul and Busan.

At the same time, the political heavyweights of the country's liberal and conservative blocs are gearing up for the upcoming competition with their presidential bids, waiting for the results of the by-elections, which will act as a barometer of public opinion for the upcoming presidential election.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, a former six-term lawmaker with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who also served as the National Assembly speaker from 2016 to 2018, has expressed his intention to join the presidential race after the by-elections.

When asked by reporters during his press briefing last week if he would resign from prime minister position to make a presidential bid, Chung said he would announce his stance after first consulting on the matter with President Moon Jae-in.

"There will come an opportunity to announce my stance on the matter of my future path. But I am not ready to talk yet," Chung said.

Political watchers said that Chung would declare his bid after this week's by-elections, as Chung said he would first concentrate on completing his duties as prime minister by carrying out policies to contain the spread of COVID-19 and boost the economy dragged down by the pandemic.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presides over the Central Disease Control Headquarters' meeting to discuss the government's measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic at the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who is recently leading polls of potential presidential candidates, casts his ballot at a polling station in Seoul's Seodaemun District, Friday, the first day of the two days of early voting for the April 7 by-elections. Yonhap

Meanwhile, the major political parties are expected to carry out a reshuffling of their leadership, regardless of the by-election results. The party that wins the by-elections may gain a boost in fielding a presidential candidate, while the losing side could face a political crisis.

If the DPK loses, the party's election committee chief, Lee Nak-yon, former prime minister to Moon and former DPK chief, will lose political ground. He has already been losing public support in polls concerning the popularity of potential presidential candidates.

Recent polls showed former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's soaring popularity. A survey by local pollster Realmeter of 2,547 adults, conducted in the fourth week of March, showed that public support for Yoon as the country's next leader surged to a record high of 34.4 percent. Yoon was followed by Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, a DPK member, who garnered 21.4 percent support, and Lee Nak-yon, with 11.9 percent.


Emaildamin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
LG
  • Bodies found in missing family's car in Wando
  • Korea looks to Europe to diversify trade partners as China's growth slows
  • [INTERVIEW] 'Asia-Pacific region has potential to lead global decarbonization sector'
  • How I lost my period after shooting my first 'body profile'
  • Yoon, first lady attend gala dinner hosted by King of Spain
  • Luna collapse causes chaos
  • Inflation expectations in S. Korea hit 10-year high in June
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases back up over 10,000 after 20 days
  • Korea's first NATO summit to show expanded global role: experts
  • ASEAN F&B industry eyes sustainable market in Korea
  • [INTERVIEW] With unusual nicknames and backgrounds, MIRAE eyes becoming next big K-pop star [INTERVIEW] With unusual nicknames and backgrounds, MIRAE eyes becoming next big K-pop star
  • [INTERVIEW] Jean-Michel Othoniel's glass garden of enchantment 'is for everybody' [INTERVIEW] Jean-Michel Othoniel's glass garden of enchantment 'is for everybody'
  • Girl group aespa to perform in 'Good Morning America' 2022 Summer Concert Series Girl group aespa to perform in 'Good Morning America' 2022 Summer Concert Series
  • Park Hae-il 'honored' to play war hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin in 'Hansan' Park Hae-il 'honored' to play war hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin in 'Hansan'
  • BTS' J-Hope to prerelease 'More' Friday BTS' J-Hope to prerelease 'More' Friday
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group