The Democratic Party announced on May 14 that it is preferable to finalize the unification of candidates for the Ulsan mayoral election by the registration deadline of May 15.
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly that having the names of withdrawn candidates on the ballot could confuse voters.
He added that discussions about unification are ongoing, with regular communication occurring at the provincial party level, including meetings with the Progressive Party. He expressed optimism that a conclusion could be reached today or tomorrow.
Currently, the Ulsan mayoral race includes Kim Sang-wook from the Democratic Party, Kim Jong-hoon from the Progressive Party, and Hwang Myung-pil from the Justice Party, who are all working towards a consensus on unification. Negotiations at the party level are also progressing positively.
However, Kang was cautious regarding unification efforts for the Pyeongtaek by-election, emphasizing that the willingness of the candidates is the most crucial factor.
In the Pyeongtaek by-election, tensions have been rising between Kim Yong-nam from the Democratic Party and Jo Guk, the leader of the Justice Party. With a multi-candidate scenario emerging, including the announcement of candidacy by Kim Jae-yeon, the chair of the Progressive Party, there are concerns that failure to unify could disadvantage progressive candidates.
Additionally, when asked about the recent rise of the People Power Party candidates in the Yeongnam region, Kang noted that the distortion of public opinion polls in the area may have contributed, mentioning that some polls have given a 20% weight to landline surveys.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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