Democratic Party Reverses Decision: What Does Kim Byung-wook‘s Candidacy Mean for Seongnam’s 2026 Elections?

Daniel Kim | 2026.03.26

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  Yonhap News
  Yonhap News
발언하는 정청래 대표[연합뉴스 자료사진][연합뉴스 자료사진]

The Democratic Party has reversed its earlier decision to award former lawmaker Kim Byung-wook an uncontested nomination for the June 3 local election in Seongnam and will now select its candidate through a primary.

Kang Jun-hyun, the party’s chief spokesperson, said on the 26th that the party’s top committee reached the decision after citing a ruling from the central party’s rehearing panel.

On the 20th, the Gyeonggi provincial chapter had nominated Kim — a member of the original pro-Myeong group known as the “Seven” — as its candidate for Seongnam mayor.

Former party spokesperson Kim Ji-ho filed a rehearing petition in response.

He alleged irregularities concerning the source of funds used by Kim’s eldest son to purchase an apartment in Gangnam and called for the nomination to be withdrawn.

#DemocraticParty #Seongnam #KimByung-wook #KimJi-ho

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