Park Min-sik, People Power Party candidate for the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary by-election (Yonhap)
The People Power Party’s nomination committee on May 5 confirmed Park Min-sik, described as a former minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, as its candidate in the June 3 parliamentary by-election in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district.
Park will face Ha Jeong-woo of the Democratic Party and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon. Park dismissed the possibility of unifying candidacies with Han as “zero.”
After his nomination was finalized, Park held a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, saying, “With the strength of Buk-gu alone, I will deliver victory for Buk-gu,” and adding that he was confident of winning “whether it’s a two-way race or a three-way race.”
Park criticized what he called talk by people close to Han about unification or the party not fielding a candidate. “If you entered the race, you should stand tall and accept the residents’ judgment,” he said, adding, “Stop running ‘wishful thinking.’”
He said the election was not simply about “one seat in the National Assembly,” but about developing Buk-gu and “retaking the Nakdong River front line,” arguing that political calculations such as unification or no nomination were neither fair nor consistent with the stated purpose.
On a series of controversies involving Ha’s camp, including an issue referred to as “shaking off,” Park said he was “personally hurt” and viewed it as serious. He said it was not merely a mistake by a “political rookie,” but “an expression of elitism deeply rooted inside.”
Asked about claims that his support lags behind rival candidates, Park said he would not be swayed by polls. He also said affiliations should not be presented ambiguously in surveys or media coverage, adding, “The People Power Party candidate is Park Min-sik, and Han is an independent,” and that candidates should campaign fairly with their ballot numbers.
Park will face Ha Jeong-woo of the Democratic Party and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon. Park dismissed the possibility of unifying candidacies with Han as “zero.”
After his nomination was finalized, Park held a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, saying, “With the strength of Buk-gu alone, I will deliver victory for Buk-gu,” and adding that he was confident of winning “whether it’s a two-way race or a three-way race.”
Park criticized what he called talk by people close to Han about unification or the party not fielding a candidate. “If you entered the race, you should stand tall and accept the residents’ judgment,” he said, adding, “Stop running ‘wishful thinking.’”
He said the election was not simply about “one seat in the National Assembly,” but about developing Buk-gu and “retaking the Nakdong River front line,” arguing that political calculations such as unification or no nomination were neither fair nor consistent with the stated purpose.
On a series of controversies involving Ha’s camp, including an issue referred to as “shaking off,” Park said he was “personally hurt” and viewed it as serious. He said it was not merely a mistake by a “political rookie,” but “an expression of elitism deeply rooted inside.”
Asked about claims that his support lags behind rival candidates, Park said he would not be swayed by polls. He also said affiliations should not be presented ambiguously in surveys or media coverage, adding, “The People Power Party candidate is Park Min-sik, and Han is an independent,” and that candidates should campaign fairly with their ballot numbers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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