The main opposition Democratic United Party moved quickly to nominate a former presidential official to the Songpa-A constituency, one of the crucial battle spots in the Gangnam belt, as Rep. Chun Hyun-heui gave up her candidacy Monday.

Chun, a former party floor spokesperson earlier applied for the Gangnam-B candidacy but lost to former Democratic Party chairmen Rep. Chung Dong-young.

She was then moved to the eastern Songpa, according to the party’s plan to implement a strategic nomination in the area.

“I do thank the party for offering me another chance, but my nomination in Songpa may invite public blame for the party,” said Chun Monday.

“Also, I pledged to accept the results of the preliminary race and to give my full support to Rep. Chung.”

The party thus summoned Park Sung-soo, former presidential secretary for legal affairs, who lost in the preliminary race in the Gangdong-B constituency.

Chun’s resignation is expected to alter the party’s election strategy in the affluent Gangnam area, which is regarded a crucial spot in the Seoul race.

The Gangnam belt ― Gangnam, Seocho, and Sonpa districts ― have traditionally been in favor of the conservatives but the left-wing party nominated its top figures to the area in an attempt to beat the ruling Saenuri Party.

Chun was originally expected to compete with the ruling party candidate Park In-sook, a cardiac professor of Seoul Asan Hospital.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)