Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Cho Kuk, Han Dong-hoon bid for Assembly seats, raising stakes for by-elections
Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, announces his candidacy for the June 3 by-election for a National Assembly seat in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, during an announcement at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Liberal bloc weighs alliances, PPP struggles to field strong candidates
The parliamentary by-elections, scheduled alongside the June 3 local elections, are quickly becoming a political battleground in their own right, with the entry of high-profile candidates drawing comparisons to a “mini-general election.”
The race gained further momentum when Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, formally declared his candidacy in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, shaking up the political landscape in the capital region.
According to political observers, at least 10 constituencies have been confirmed for the by-elections so far and this number is expected to rise to as many as 14, depending on whether incumbent lawmakers step down to run in local races.
Although the contests are technically held in tandem with the local elections, they are increasingly seen as a national-level test of political strength.
The growing number of candidates has been fueled by the entry of high-profile figures.
Cho’s decision to run in Pyeongtaek has been matched by former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon, who has declared his candidacy in Busan’s Buk District.
Both are widely viewed as potential presidential contenders, turning the by-elections into an early gauge of their political standing.
Han recently emphasized his commitment to the race by announcing that he had secured a residence in Buk District, a move interpreted as signaling his intent to rebuild his political base in the region.
He has also framed his bid as part of a broader effort to reconnect with voters on the ground, according to people familiar with his campaign.
Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon poses for a photo with constituents after completing his address registration at a community service center in Busan’s Buk District, Tuesday. Yonhap
At the center of the unfolding contest is Cho’s bid in Pyeongtaek, which he framed as a high-stakes challenge.
“Pyeongtaek is one of the toughest battlegrounds,” Cho said at a press conference, adding that his goal is to “bring the PPP’s presence there down to zero.”
He also emphasized broader political objectives, saying he would work toward “completely ending insurrectionist politics and carrying out genuine reform,” while positioning himself as a candidate capable of uniting reform-minded voters.
Cho’s candidacy has complicated calculations within the broader liberal bloc.
The Pyeongtaek seat became vacant after former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Yi Byeong-jin was unseated over an election law violation involving the omission of assets in his financial disclosure, prompting Cho to argue that the party should refrain from fielding a candidate.
The DPK, however, has made it clear it will contest all available seats.
Rep. Jung Chung-rae, chair of the DPK, reiterated that stance, saying the party would nominate candidates in all constituencies and that “strategic nominations are the principle.”
He added that the party would not leave any seat uncontested, highlighting its intention to maximize its electoral footprint.
The gap between the two positions has brought renewed attention to the possibility of vote splitting or last-minute alliances among liberal parties.
While liberal parties have moved quickly to consolidate support behind well-known figures, the main opposition PPP is struggling to present a comparable lineup.
A PPP official who requested anonymity has pointed to the lack of strong candidates, with some acknowledging privately that it is difficult to identify contenders capable of winning key races.
Party officials have also conceded that internal divisions have complicated efforts to mount a unified campaign.
The PPP has begun accepting nominations for five confirmed constituencies, but the outlook remains uncertain.
Most of the districts are considered favorable to the DPK, while the PPP's internal nomination disputes have weighed on the party’s approval ratings, which have fallen to their lowest level since its launch. With little sign of a turnaround, the by-elections are shaping up to be another test of the PPP leadership.