The Democratic Party is set to announce a candidate unification with the Progressive Party for the Ulsan mayoral race ahead of the June 3 local elections.
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's spokesperson, held a press conference on the morning of May 15 in Yeouido, Seoul, addressing local election issues. He stated that the unification involves "the Ulsan mayor, local council heads, and provincial council members," adding that "the secretaries of both parties are scheduled to meet today for final adjustments."
Regarding unification in other regions, he noted, "I understand that each candidate is handling the unification process on their own," and emphasized that to avoid confusion, it would be ideal to finalize unifications by today, before the ballots are printed.
When asked if the unification discussions include the Pyeongtaek district, where Justice Party candidate Cho Kuk is running, Kang responded, "Does Representative Cho have the will for unification?"
Additionally, Kang criticized the People Power Party's attacks on Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-o for the Seoul mayoral race, calling them very malicious. He stated, "The People Power Party is leading with crude expressions and unreasonable incitement across various sectors," and pointed out their intention to exploit weak evidence to sensationalize discussions about the May 18 incident for electoral gain.
He further questioned, "What kind of mayor was Oh Se-hoon? He spent 20.7 billion won of taxpayer money to create an awkward structure resembling a ceremonial sword in Gwanghwamun Square. Is this the normal image of a Seoul mayor? Who exactly is the People Power Party running this election for?"
Regarding the Election Commission's referral of Democratic Party candidate Yoo Chan-jong for Jongno District to prosecutors, Kang stated, "The investigation is a separate issue," and clarified, "Based on the party's internal investigation, it seems there are no grounds for disqualifying the candidate. If the party does not reach a conclusion, the candidate's eligibility remains intact."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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