GNP to Pick Seoul Mayoral Candidate April 29

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Staff Reporter

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) said Monday that it will pick its candidate for Seoul mayor to run in the June 2 local elections on April 29.

Incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Reps. Won Hee-ryong, Na Kyung-won and Kim Choong-whan are vying in the primary.

They registered their candidacy with the party's election management committee earlier in the day and pledged a fair competition.

The GNP candidate is expected to compete against former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who is widely speculated to run in the election on the main opposition Democratic Party's ticket.

During the 10-day official campaigning until April 28, the four GNP candidates are scheduled to hold a television debate and meet with party delegates and residents.

According to the rules, the nominee will be determined by the combined results of popular votes from the GNP delegates and a public opinion survey of Seoul citizens.

Incumbent Oh's popularity is unrivaled, while Rep. Won, according to surveys of party delegates, is most popular among GNP members.

Oh is the only candidate in the ruling camp who is ahead of former Prime

Minister Han in public opinion surveys. The other three lag behind Han in terms of popularity.

Although the incumbent mayor has gained the upper hand in the polls, party insiders say the campaign landscape can change drastically at any time.

Rumor has it that one of two candidates ― Reps. Won and Na ― may withdraw his or her bid to support the other.

If this becomes a reality, they said, no one can say with any confidence who will win the GNP primary.