Nominates pro-Roh figures in Busan, ex-democracy fighter’s widow in Seoul


The main opposition Democratic United Party selected its April election candidates for some constituencies in the southeast, where fierce battles are expected against the rival Saenuri Party.

The party also nominated In Jae-geun, widow of former party adviser Kim Geun-tae, in a northern Seoul constituency.

The party’s nomination screening committee Wednesday announced the list of 40 candidates who passed the initial evaluation.

High-profile pro-Roh Moo-hyun figures such as Moon Jae-in, Moon Sung-keun and former minister Kim Jung-kil were also nominated for their respective districts in Busan.

Rep. Kim Boo-kyum was given the green light in a Daegu constituency. The third-term lawmaker earlier gave up his longtime constituency in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, and is set to fight for the parliamentary seat in the hometown of Saenuri leader Rep. Park Geun-hye.

In areas where multiple candidates were selected, the party is to hold a vote on who final runner will be, starting early next month, officials said.

Similar processes are to follow in Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi provinces and then in Seoul and the Jeolla provinces.

“We prioritized the southeastern region of Yeongnam in order to display our profound affection for the region and also to expand our boundaries and abolish the bad practices of regionalism,” said Rep. Baek Won-woo of the screening panel.

The southeastern Gyeongsang provinces and Busan ― referred to as Yeongnam ― have long been considered a conservative stronghold but left-wing figures have recently gained an upper hand over their Saenuri rivals, according to public polls.

The party’s rising reputation in the region is partly attributable to the influence of former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who was born and died in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.

The party also kicked off its strategic nomination with In Jae-geun in Dobong-A district, the former constituency of her husband.

Kim Geun-tae, a renowned pro-democracy activist and senior adviser to the DUP, died of complications from pneumonia and blood poisoning late last year.

“I have decided to accept the nomination in order to fulfill my husband’s will,” she said Wednesday, announcing her candidacy.

“I shall promote the role of female politicians and work for peninsular peace, as well as for the improvement of people’s quality of life.”

Strategic nomination refers to the party’s election tactic to field a single runner to a politically important district, without internal races or public polls.

The corresponding constituency is currently represented by Rep. Shin Ji-ho, first-term lawmaker of the Saenuri Party.

Meanwhile, Supreme Council member Moon Sung-keun pressed chairperson Han Myeong-sook for more strategic nominations.

“The party should call off its earlier decision to minimize strategic nomination as we need to give a chance to capable political rookies,” he said Wednesday.

His stance reflects concerns that members hailing from civic groups may be put at a disadvantage in the nomination process against former Democratic Party figures.

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