Translation result.
The Democratic Party’s Busan chapter has accelerated its primaries for district mayor positions. With candidates now confirmed in key districts such as Dongnae, Yeongdo and Sasang, the nomination contest is effectively entering its final phase.
According to the party, in a two-day primary held April 10–11, Tak Young-il defeated Joo Sun-hee to secure the Democratic nomination for Dongnae district mayor.
In Yeongdo, Kim Cheol-hoon prevailed over Park Seong-yoon to win the nomination, while in Sasang, Seo Tae-kyung narrowly beat Kim Bu-min to clinch the party’s endorsement.
Those results largely set the slate of leading local candidates across Busan.
Notably, women have made significant gains. Among the confirmed Democratic candidates are six women: Seo Eun-sook (Busanjin District), Jeong Myung-hee (Buk District), Kim Jin (Suyeong District), Kim Kyung-ji (Geumjeong District), Woo Seong-bin (Gijang County), and Kang Hee-eun (Jung District).
Party officials say the outcomes reflect structural changes in the nomination process and a deliberate push to broaden generational and gender representation.
The remaining wildcard is Seo District.
The Busan chapter has scheduled a runoff to decide the Seo District mayoral nominee, with voting set for the 17th and 18th. Given how competitive the race has been, the runoff could materially reshape the local political landscape.
However, Sasang remains clouded by uncertainty. Allegations have surfaced that the Busan chapter’s secretary-general colluded in the nomination process. Depending on the outcome of an investigation by the central party, questions about candidate eligibility and the legitimacy of the nominations could be reignited. Some political figures note that while the primary is over, the stability of its results has not yet been secured.
With the district mayor contests winding down, the Busan chapter plans to move forward with primaries for metropolitan and local council seats, as well as for proportional-representation lists. Despite the controversies surrounding nominations, the party says the timetable will proceed as planned.
Political observers say that as the district mayor nominations near completion, the contours of the general election will quickly take shape. Analysts warn, however, that it remains unclear how the nomination-related disputes will influence the broader campaign.
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