Early voting begins for by-election to elect 2 lawmakers

Rep. Lee Hae-chan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, center, makes a speech for Yeo Young-guk, right, a single candidate from the liberal party for the Changwon district in South Gyeongsang Province during an election campaign in the city, Friday. Early voting has begun to elect lawmakers in two constituencies in South Gyeongsang Province for April 3's Assembly by-elections, which are being seen as a political litmus test for the upcoming 2020 general elections. / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Early voting has begun for next week's Assembly by-elections, with political analysts regarding the results as a “litmus test” ahead of next year's general elections.

Eligible voters can vote for the April 3 elections in two South Gyeongsang Province districts in Changwon and Tongyeong-Goseong, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Election Commission.

The key focus is who will fill in the vacancy left by the late Roh Hoe-chan of the country's most progressive Justice Party. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed with the minor party for a single candidate to increase winning bids.

Yeo Young-guk of the Justice Party, a former district councilor for Changwon, is the sole left-wing candidate, while Kang Ki-youn of the main opposition is representing the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). A recent poll showed Yeo is leading the race with a 44.8 percent approval rate, followed by Kang with 35.7 percent.

DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan along with Justice Party Chairwoman Lee Jeong-mi visited Changwon and Tongyeong-Goseong to endorse Yeo.

Meanwhile, LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn also visited the precincts to support his party's candidates.

Kang is promoting himself by criticizing the government's policy to cut the number of nuclear power plants, as the decision is having a negative impact on the region's economy.

“I will push for canceling the anti-nuclear power plant policy and thus revitalizing local heavy industries,” Kim said.