Opposition parties set for Seoul mayoral election

On the left is Kim Seon-dong, former secretary general of the People Power Party who stepped down from the party post to run in the party primary for the Seoul mayoral by-election, and on the right is Lee Hye-hoon, an economist-turned-politician and a former three-term lawmaker who also expressed her intention to run for the by-election. Korea Times file

Main opposition party seeks to bring strong figures from outside

By Jung Da-min

Opposition parties are set to prepare for next April's by-elections, especially for the mayoral posts of the country's two largest cities, Seoul and Busan, which were previously held by ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) members.

Figures from the main opposition party have begun to express their intention to run for the posts, either officially or unofficially, and party leaders are also searching outside the party for appealing potential candidates.

The attention is especially on Seoul due to the significance of the capital city, and several members of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have expressed their intention to run in the party primary. Among them are Kim Seon-dong, former secretary general of the party who stepped down from the post to run in the primary, as well as economist-turned-politician and former three-term lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon.

“Many people around me recommended for me to run,” Lee said in a radio interview with local broadcaster KBS, Tuesday. “I take their advice seriously and I think I am in the last minute of consideration.”

Lee also wrote on Facebook the following day that she would soon announce her stance, also writing about the economic problems of Seoul City.

Winning mayoral posts in the country's two major cities could be a political turning point for the main opposition party, which is struggling to boost its support rating since its defeat in April's general election.

In fact, the situation could be favorable to the PPP considering both former mayors, who were DPK members, faced sexual harassment allegations. The ruling party would have been unable to field candidates to run for the two mayoral according its own regulations, but the party changed these regulations earlier this week to allow them to put forward candidates.

While the DPK's change of regulations received harsh criticism from the opposition bloc and the public, the PPP is trying to take this as an opportunity to appeal to the people. It is planning to select its candidates through a primary in which a public opinion poll will make up 80 percent or 90 percent of the selection decision and party members' votes will account for the rest. It will be a huge increase in the influence of public polls from the current 50 percent.

The PPP leadership is also seeking to bring in strong figures from outside the party who are more likely to gain support from the public, as its potential candidates lack a public support base.

PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young especially mentioned the possibility of the party partnering with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the minor opposition People's Party, or Keum Tae-sup, a former DPK lawmaker who recently left the ruling party after harshly criticizing what he described as its “divisive” and “arrogant” stance on controversial issues, including President Moon Jae-in's judiciary reform plans.

“I believe there is a very high possibility of combining forces with Ahn and Keum when we reach the last part of the election campaign,” Joo said in a radio interview with local broadcaster MBC, Wednesday.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the minor opposition People's Party, delivers a lecture for a forum organized by members of the main opposition People Power Party and the People's Party at the National Assembly, Friday. Ahn said the opposition bloc needs to show a totally different side to get support from the public. Yonhap

But it has yet to be seen whether such a “combining of forces” ― either in the form of a merger between the PPP and the People's Party or in a show of solidarity ― will be possible, as both Ahn and Keum have yet to express their intention to partner with the PPP. Moreover, some PPP members are opposing the idea of partnering with them saying the party should select candidates from its own members.

Ahn, who has run as a presidential candidate, has also been mentioned as a potential Seoul mayoral candidate, but he has said he will not run for the post.

However, in a forum organized by members of the PPP and the People's Party, Friday, he said the opposition bloc should be reorganized to win more public support. “We need to show a totally different aspect. The public will pay attention to us when we make a new, innovative platform and present detailed visions and policies for Korea's future,” he said in the forum at the National Assembly.

He added, “I will do my best to change political power.”