Ex-presidential candidates likely to return to politics as lawmakers
Former presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Ahn Cheol-soo will likely make their comeback to politics as lawmakers.
During Wednesday’s parliamentary by-elections, which took place in seven constituencies concurrently with local elections, Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Ahn Cheol-soo of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) are anticipated to win in Incheon’s Gyeyang District B and Seongnam’s Bundang A District, respectively.
As of 11:30 p.m., the PPP was leading in four out of seven constituencies. Ahn has celebrated his victory with more than half of the votes counted in Incheon. At the same time, Lee was distancing himself from his PPP rival as counting in the precinct was in the early phase.
In Incheon, Lee was ahead of the PPP’s Yoon Hyeong-seon, a political rookie, by 54.1 percent to 45.9 percent, according to the exit poll conducted by three broadcasters, KBS, SBS, and MBC, in collaboration with the Korean Broadcasters’ Association. As of 11:30 p.m., with 25.67 percent of ballots being counted, the former DPK flagbearer secured 56.37 percent, while PPP’s Yoon was trailing behind with 43.62 percent.
Lee’s bid to run in the by-election was widely seen as a political gamble, because he was running in another election less than three months after his unsuccessful presidential campaign, rather than taking the responsibility of the defeat.
Lee claimed that he returned to the frontlines of politics to spearhead the
DPK’s campaigns, but at the same time faced criticism for running in the election to gain a “bulletproof vest” from allegations surrounding him and his family members by using a lawmaker’s immunity from arrest granted by law.
Incheon’s Gyeyang District B has been a DPK stronghold, electing liberal candidates in six out of seven recent elections for lawmakers. As a result, Lee was criticized for choosing an easy constituency even though he has no experience related to the region.
Lee declined to comment even though the exit poll showed that he was likely to win in Incheon.
Regarding the exit poll results that projected the crushing defeat of the DPK, the DPK’s co-interim chief Park Ji-hyun told reporters, “We should have focused on self-scrutiny, rather than seeking a balance against the PPP.”
If Lee wins the race, it will be his first term at the National Assembly.
Ahn Cheol-soo in political mainstream
In Seongnam, the PPP’s Ahn Cheol-soo was anticipated to enjoy a comfortable win over DPK candidate Kim Byoung-gwan, with the exit poll showing Ahn is leading by 64 percent to 36 percent.
As of 11:30 p.m., with 53.98 percent of ballots being counted, Ahn secured 64.69 percent, outpacing Kim with 35.3 percent. If Ahn wins the race, he will become a three-term lawmaker.
Wednesday’s win also gives Ahn greater political influence, compared to his previous stints as a lawmaker, because this time he will engage in legislative activities as a member of the ruling party.
So far, Ahn mostly played a role in Korean politics as a minor voice, thus failing to gain enough political leverage. Just days before the presidential election, however, Ahn, who was a presidential candidate of his People’s Party, merged his campaign with Yoon and the party was absorbed into the PPP. If he wins a lawmaker seat as a PPP member, he is anticipated to make efforts to expand his influence in the party and attempt to make his way into the party’s leadership.
In Jeju B precinct, the DPK’s Kim Han-kyu and the PPP’s Boo Sangil were staging a tight race, with Kim leading Boo by 47.6 percent to 46.81 percent with 58.75 percent of votes being counted. In Changwon’s
Euichang District, the PPP’s Kim Yeong-sun secured 63.93 percent, outpacing the DPK’s Kim Ji-soo with 36.06 percent after 35.63 percent of votes were counted.
In Boryeong and Seocheon County, South Chuncheong Province, the DPK’s Na So-yeol garnered 50.38 percent to lead the PPP’s Jang Dong-hyeok with 49.61 percent after 14.93 percent of ballots were counted.
In Daegu’s Suseong District B, the PPP’s Lee In-seon was leading over the DPK’s Kim Young-rack by 82.65 percent to 17.34 percent after 1.84 percent of votes were counted. In Gangwon Province’s Wonju A, PPP candidate Park Jung-ha was outpacing DPK candidate Won Changmuk by 64.42 percent to 35.57 percent after 53.98 percent of votes were counted.