By Kang Hyun-kyung
The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) selected 54 candidates to run in the April 11 National Assembly elections on the DUP ticket, Friday.
Among them, Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, a former leader of the liberal party, will run in the Jongno district in Seoul.
The ruling Saenuri Party has yet to select its candidates.
Chung is likely to face either Lee Dong-kwan, a former senior presidential secretary for public relations, or Rep. Cho Yoon-sun, a former spokeswoman of the conservative party.
Recent public opinion polls found Lee’s rating slightly higher than that of Cho.
DUP spokesman Shin Kyoung-min told reporters that the party’s key post-holders were chosen to run in the April elections.
Among them, Rep. Lee Yong-sup, DUP chief policymaker, will run in Gwangju and Secretary-General Lim Jong-seok will run in the Seongdong district in Seoul.
Shin said the selection committee gave disadvantages to applicants who had quit elective posts, such as mayor, to run in the parliamentary elections.
No sitting lawmakers were eliminated in the selection process.
Following an announcement of candidates, including Moon Jae-in, Wednesday, this is the second round of selections by the DUP of those to run in the elections.
The liberal party will announce a third list of names soon.