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Tue, October 3, 2023 | 22:26
Politics
Park Won-soon, Nam Kyung-pil rising as presidential contenders
차기 대권주자 명암…뜨고 진 잠룡들
Posted : 2014-06-05 16:59
Updated : 2014-06-05 19:11
Kang Seung-woo
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By Kang Seung-woo

Park Won-woon Seoul mayor-electHong Joon-pyo S. Gyeongsang governor-elect
Park Won-woon
Seoul mayor-elect
Park Won-woon Seoul mayor-electHong Joon-pyo S. Gyeongsang governor-elect
Hong Joon-pyo
S. Gyeongsang governor-elect
The June 4 local elections have determined the fates of the rival parties' potential presidential hopefuls.

High-profile politicians ran in the local elections in unprecedented numbers, thus providing everyone a glimpse into how the 2017 presidential campaign might pan out.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) has become the biggest winner of the elections after successfully defending his post against ruling Saenuri Party candidate Chung Mong-joon.

The re-election has established him as arguably the frontrunner in the next presidential election given that the mayorship carries extra weight in Korean politics and it is often regarded as a strong springboard to the presidency. Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak was elected president in 2008, running on his accomplishments as the top administrator of the city.

Although Park said he would not run for president once winning re-election ― his mayoral term will run through 2018 ― the presidential election is three years away and his presidential bid may pick up momentum in the meantime.

Conversely, Chung, a former seven-term lawmaker, saw his reputation hit hard as the ruling party's leading presidential candidate.

The former FIFA vice president had a plan to make a steppingstone of the mayor post, but he is now in no mood to talk about the presidency because he failed to present a political vision.

Inevitably, the defeat is likely to demote Chung to a fringe group within the party for the present time, but he is expected to watch for an opportunity in order to bounce back.

Reform-minded Saenuri lawmakers Nam Kyung-pil and Won Hee-ryong also made their cases for the presidency after winning the governorship in Gyeonggi and Jeju Provinces, respectively.

Edging NPAD's experienced candidate Kim Jin-pyo by less than one percentage point in the gubernatorial race of Gyeonggi Province, Nam has added another line on his resume, which already features his five-time Assembly membership.

Given that the governorship also has extra significance in political circles, or as a steppingstone for the presidency along with the Seoul mayorship, he has clearly gained a foothold for a possible presidential bid.

As for Won, the Jeju native triumphed in his hometown to resurrect his career which has been down since he dropped out of the general elections in 2012.

Hong Joon-pyo of the Saenuri Party was re-elected as the governor of South Gyeongsang Province to cement his billing as a potential presidential contender.

Inside the NPAD, Ahn Hee-jung, who retained his governor position of South Chungcheong Province, has consolidated his status as a rising competitive candidate for the presidential election, but Song Young-gil, who failed to fend off the challenge of the Saenuri's Yoo Jeong-bok in the Incheon mayoral race, saw his hopes for the presidency dashed.

Kim Boo-kyum did not pull off an upset in Daegu ― a strong Saenuri Party stronghold and hometown to President Park Geun-hye ― but he garnered 40.3 percent support _ the highest ever cast for an opposition party' candidate. He also ran in the 2012 general elections in the city and received an approval rating of more than 40 percent.

Thanks to his series of challenges, he is now seen as bona fide representative of the opposition party in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.


차기 대권주자 명암…뜨고 진 잠룡들

與 홍준표 남경필 원희룡, 野 박원순 안희정 김부겸 부상

정몽준 송영길 김부겸 당분간 시련기 불가피…재기 모색할듯

 

6·4 지방선거에서 오는 2017년 차기 대권 고지를 노리는 여야 잠룡들의 명암이 극명하게 엇갈렸다.

이번 광역단체장 선거는 어느 때보다 대선주자급 후보가 대거 출전, 각축을 벌이면서 '대망'에 한걸음 다가서기 위한 예비 차기주자들의 전초전을 방불케 했다.

새누리당의 홍준표 경남지사·원희룡 제주지사 당선인, 그리고 새정치민주연합 소속의 안희정 충남지사 당선인 등은 선거 과정에서 대권 도전 의지를 공개적으로 밝히며 '큰 인물론'을 득표전략에 활용하기도 했다.

세대별로는 2010년 6·2 지방선거에 이은 '486세대'의 약진도 눈길을 모았다. 이에따라 차기 대선경쟁에서 세대교체 가능성을 열어놨다는 평가도 나온다.

새누리당 정몽준 후보와 새정치민주연합 박원순 당선인이 맞붙은 서울시장 선거는 여야 두 '거물'의 정치적 운명을 갈라 놓았다. 서울시장 선거는 '청계천 신화'를 발판으로 대권으로 직행했던 이명박 전 대통령 사례에서 보듯, 대권가도를 향한 교두보로 불려왔다.

2011년 10·26 보궐선거 때 새정치연합 안철수 공동대표의 이른바 '아름다운 양보'로 당선됐던 박 당선인은 이번에는 '자력'으로 여유있게 재선을 꿰차면서 명실상부한 야권의 유력주자 반열에 성큼 올라섰다.

그는 '당선되면 임기를 마치겠다'며 차기 대선 불출마 입장을 밝혀왔지만, 향후 야권 지형에 따라 '대망론'은 언제든 되살아날 수 있을 것으로 보인다. 안 대표와의 '동지적 관계'가 경우에 따라 '라이벌'로 바뀔 수 있음을 시사하는 대목이다.

반면 여권 내에서 '포스트 박근혜' 그룹의 선두에 섰던 정 후보는 박 당선인에게 고배를 마시며 대권을 향한 쾌속질주에 일단 제동이 걸렸다. 박 당선인을 상대로 '농약급식' 논란 등을 집중 제기하며 추격에 나섰지만 역전드라마를 연출하는데는 역부족이었다.

이로 인해 당분간 시련기가 불가피하겠지만, 큰 선거에 도전한 실전 경험을 자양분으로 여권내 비주류 주자로서 재기의 기회를 엿볼 것으로 보인다.

여당에선 홍준표 경남지사 당선인도 무난히 재선에 성공, 잠재적 주자로서 입지를 굳혔다. 2012년 대선과 동시에 치러진 보궐 선거로 당선된 뒤 취임 초기부터 진주의료업 폐업 방침 발표로 논란의 중심에 섰지만 '보수의 아이콘'으로 떠오르기도 했다. 다만 홍 당선인은 '텃밭'이라는 확고한 지지기반을 바탕으로 재선고지에 오름으로써 승리의 효과는 덜 감동적이라는 지적도 나온다.

여권내 원조 소장 개혁파인 남경필 경기지사 당선인과 원 제주지사 당선인도 첫 광역단체장 도전에서 나란히 성공하면서 차기 주자군에 단숨에 합류했다.

남 당선인은 치열한 접전 끝에 수도권내 '여당의 진지'를 지켜냄으로써 향후 행정경험을 통해 5선 출신임에도 '만년 소장파'라는 기존 이미지를 탈피, 정치적 자산을 업그레이드하는 발판을 마련했다.

원 당선인은 고향인 제주에서 압승, 2012년 총선 불출마 후 계속된 공백기를 딛고 화려하게 부활했다.

야권에서는 4년전 6·2 지방선거 때 승리의 주역이었던 486세대 출신인 안 당선인과 송영길 인천시장 후보가 재선의 길목에서 희비가 교차했다.

고(故) 노무현 전 대통령의 최측근이었던 안 당선인은 개표 초반부터 시종 리드하며 재선 고지에 등정, 당내 486세대의 선두에 서며 차세대 주자로 부상했다. 충남 뿐만아니라 충청권 전역으로 영향력을 확대하고 있다는 점에서 중원의 '맹주'로 자리매김할 것이라는 기대감도 불러일으키고 있다.

향후 친노(친노무현) 진영의 좌장격인 문재인 의원과 '선의의 경쟁' 관계로 전환될 가능성도 배제할 수 없다.

반면에 송 후보의 재선 도전은 박근혜 대통령의 측근인 유정복 당선인에 밀려 속절없이 좌절됐다.

김부겸 대구시장 후보는 비록 박 대통령의 정치적 고향에서 '기적'을 이뤄내진 못했지만 2012년 총선 당시에 이어 이번에도 40%의 벽을 돌파했다. 이에 따라 야권의 불모지에서 지역주의 벽에 맞서 '아름다운 패배'를 이어가며 잠재주자군에 이름을 올리게 됐다는 평가다.
Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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