Opposition party narrows down contenders

This composite photo shows, from left, former Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Won Hee-ryong, former opposition lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Rep. Hong Joon-pyo during the sixth televised debate among presidential hopefuls of the main opposition People Power Party, Oct. 5. The four made it the cut in the party's second elimination round of its presidential primaries, Friday. Yonhap

Former BAI chief fails to make cut

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has finalized its four candidates for the party's presidential primary, with former Jeju Govenror Won Hee-ryong making the cut along with ex-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min.

The four passed the party's second elimination round, which was based on a public poll with a 70 percent weighting, and a survey of PPP members with 30 percent. The party did not disclose the percentage of votes each contender received.

Since Yoon, Hong and Yoo were expected to make it to the final four, the remaining five contenders competed for the fourth spot. Won, who quit the governor position of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province to show his strong commitment to run for the presidency, and Choe Jae-hyeong, former chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), were the two most promising candidates for the fourth spot.

Won recently increased his presence by criticizing Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, over a scandal involving a development project in Daejang-dong in Seongnam, during the latter's term as mayor of the city.

“I'll show my vision through quality debates and competition, and follow the order from the people to change the administration,” Won said after the elimination list was announced, adding he would become the final candidate of the PPP and have an overwhelming victory over Lee.

Choe, who entered politics about four months ago, experienced the bitterness of defeat earlier than expected.

He resigned from his post as BAI chairman in late June and joined the PPP soon after. Choe emerged as a potential presidential candidate following his conflict with the ruling party over an audit on the legitimacy of the early shutdown of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor. His findings showed there had been falsification of documents and earnings projections.

But he failed to gain enough support, with his rate reaching 8.1 percent among contenders in July but falling since then.

After his elimination, Choe said, “I thank the people who supported me; and I vow to support a change of the regime as a member of the PPP.”

Former Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, head of the main opposition People Power Party's election committee, announces the results of the second elimination round of its presidential primaries, at the National Assembly, Friday. Yonhap

In addition to Choe, Rep. Ha Tae-keung, former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn failed to make it to the top four in the second elimination round.

The top four contenders will tour the country for regional debates, while the final round to choose the presidential candidate will be held Nov. 5, through the combined result of a public poll (50 percent weighting) and party members' votes.

Nov. 9 is the deadline for parties to nominate a candidate, 120 days before the presidential election scheduled for March 9.