Candidates gearing up for by-election in Nowon
Saenuri Party’s Huh Joon-young, left; Progressive Justice Party’s Kim Ji-sun, center; and independent Ahn Cheol-soo announce their campaign pledges after registering as candidates to run in the April 24 by-election in Seoul’s Nowon district, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Registration for candidates running in three by-elections to be held on April 24 began Thursday.
Three National Assembly seats representing Nowon in Seoul, Yeongdo in Busan and Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province are up for grabs, along with others in provincial governments and councils.
In Nowon district, currently a focus of media attention and likely to become the most fiercely contested constituency, four candidates registered including former independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and the ruling Saenuri Party’s Huh Joon-young, a former CEO of the Korea Railroad (Korail).
After registering his candidacy, Ahn said, “This election is not only to change Nowon, but also to change the nation’s political culture. I will dedicate myself to spreading the seeds of new politics.”
The software mogul-turned-politician pledged to refrain from dogmatism and self-righteousness.
“I am hopeful of success for President Park Geun-hye’s government and I will actively cooperate if necessary. But she has caused anxiety among people. I don’t think she has the will to reform politics, push forward with her envisioned democratization of the economy and communicate with the public,” he said.
The former professor of Seoul National University claimed he will hold Park in check with the public unless her administration seeks innovation on its own.
Candidates are allowed to officially begin campaigning next Thursday under the National Election Commission’s regulations.
His conservative counterpart Huh stressed his experience in high ranking positions as well as the strong support of his party that currently has the majority of seats in the National Assembly.
“I will develop Nowon as a center of transportation, economy, education and culture in Northeast region of the capital area,” he said.
Huh, also former chief of the National Police Agency, pledged to build a multipurpose building at the earliest possible date for shopping centers, medical institutions and cultural facilities.
“I will also attempt to attract a science high school here,” he said.
Kim Ji-sun of the minority Progressive Justice Party (PJP) and the Unified Progressive Party’s (UPP) Jung Tae-heung also registered as candidates to run for the bid.
Kim, wife of former lawmaker Roh Hoi-chan, co-chairman of the PJP, said she will conduct politics on behalf of vulnerable members of the society such as women and the working classes as Roh did.
“This will not be an easy election, but I am confident of winning no matter who I compete with,” she said.
The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) previously announced that it decided not to field a candidate in the region in order to combine opposition forces.
In Busan, Kim Moo-sung of the ruling party, the former chief of President Park’s presidential election campaign office, registered his candidacy.
“I am set to start my second political career here in Busan. I will sacrifice the rest of political life to develop Yeongdo and the Republic of Korea,” he said.
DUP’s Kim Bi-oh, head of the Busan regional committee, and Min Byung-ryul, former UPP acting leader, also joined the Busan race.
In Buyeo-Cheongyang district, Lee Wan-koo, former governor of South Chungcheong Province, registered to run as a ruling party candidate against two liberal candidates, the DUP’s Hwang In-suk and the UPP’s Chun Sung-in.