By Do Je-hae
Candidates for the April 29 by-elections will be completing their registration today.
Rival parties will compete in four constituencies ― Gwanak-B in Seoul, Joongwon-B in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Seogu-B in Gwangju and Ganghwa-B in Incheon. After the registration is complete, parties will engage in campaign activities starting April 16.
Although the vote will pick only four lawmakers, it carries weight for the ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung and Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), because it is their first election since assuming their respective posts.
Both parties are aiming for wins in more than two electoral districts.
The ruling party hit the NPAD for its factional strife ahead of the election and stressed that its top priority is the economy. "Unlike the opposition, we will connect voters with candidates who are devoted to saving the economy and to work for their regions, Park Dae-chul, a spokesman for the Saenuri Party, told reporters Thursday. "We will only seek judgment on our policies."
Three of the electorates are traditional strongholds for the opposition, but the ruling party has shown confidence that it can win hearts of voters with its economic pledges.
The pledges are designed to meet the particular needs of the different constituencies. For the Gwanak area, the party has proposed establishing a hub for youth business ventures called Gwanak CUBE. For Gwangju, a traditional stronghold of the NPAD, the ruling party has envisioned several new facilities to aid job growth. It also has plans for new infrastructure, such as a subway link in Gyeonggi Province.
The ruling party is expecting wins in Incheon, a traditionally conservative region and Gwanak-B in Seoul, which has been represented by opposition politicians for the last 27 years. A recent poll showed Oh Shin-hwan, the candidate from the Saenuri Party, is ahead of his competition.
The NPAD is expecting a strong showing in Gwangju, a traditional stronghold.
Rival factions of the main opposition have temporarily decided to put their differences aside and have decided to support the party ahead of the election, adding confidence to Moon's campaign.
"In the beginning, we thought that Incheon would be the toughest battleground, but right now, Ganghwa-B looks promising. We are catching up," Lee Choon-suak, director of the NPAD promotional strategy, said in a press conference Wednesday.
Candidates for the April 29 by-elections will be completing their registration today.
Rival parties will compete in four constituencies ― Gwanak-B in Seoul, Joongwon-B in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Seogu-B in Gwangju and Ganghwa-B in Incheon. After the registration is complete, parties will engage in campaign activities starting April 16.
Although the vote will pick only four lawmakers, it carries weight for the ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung and Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), because it is their first election since assuming their respective posts.
Both parties are aiming for wins in more than two electoral districts.
The ruling party hit the NPAD for its factional strife ahead of the election and stressed that its top priority is the economy. "Unlike the opposition, we will connect voters with candidates who are devoted to saving the economy and to work for their regions, Park Dae-chul, a spokesman for the Saenuri Party, told reporters Thursday. "We will only seek judgment on our policies."
Three of the electorates are traditional strongholds for the opposition, but the ruling party has shown confidence that it can win hearts of voters with its economic pledges.
The pledges are designed to meet the particular needs of the different constituencies. For the Gwanak area, the party has proposed establishing a hub for youth business ventures called Gwanak CUBE. For Gwangju, a traditional stronghold of the NPAD, the ruling party has envisioned several new facilities to aid job growth. It also has plans for new infrastructure, such as a subway link in Gyeonggi Province.
The ruling party is expecting wins in Incheon, a traditionally conservative region and Gwanak-B in Seoul, which has been represented by opposition politicians for the last 27 years. A recent poll showed Oh Shin-hwan, the candidate from the Saenuri Party, is ahead of his competition.
The NPAD is expecting a strong showing in Gwangju, a traditional stronghold.
Rival factions of the main opposition have temporarily decided to put their differences aside and have decided to support the party ahead of the election, adding confidence to Moon's campaign.
"In the beginning, we thought that Incheon would be the toughest battleground, but right now, Ganghwa-B looks promising. We are catching up," Lee Choon-suak, director of the NPAD promotional strategy, said in a press conference Wednesday.
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