Chung Dong-young Leads in Busan-Gyeongnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam Race

In the primary races of the United New Democratic Party held on September 29 and 30, former chairperson of the Uri Party Chung Dong-young took Busan-Gyeongnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam by vote yesterday.

In the primary election in Busan-Gyeongnam, the result of which was announced at BEXCO, Busan, September 30, Chung received 11,150 votes (36.4 percent) out of 30,629 valid votes and outran former prime minister Lee Hae-chan (10,890 votes·35.5 percent), and former governor of Gyeong-gi Sohn Hak-kyu (8,577 vote·28 percent).

In the Gwangju-Jeonnam competitive election held the previous day, Chung took first place with 26,065 votes (46.71 percent) out of 55,797, and Sohn and Lee followed with 19,906 votes (35.6 percent) and 9,826 votes (17.6 percent), respectively.

Accordingly, as of September 30, Chung became the leading candidate in terms of the number of accumulated votes from all eight competitive elections of the United New Democratic Party (Jeju, Ulsan, Chungbuk, and Gangwon included), with 51,125 votes (42 percent) out of 121,698 valid votes. Sohn ranked second with 37,851 votes (31.1 percent), and Lee was third with 29,641 votes (24.4 percent).

Participation rates were poor: 14.62 percent in Busan-Gyeongnam and 22.5 percent in Gwangju-Jeonnam.

Meanwhile, in the primary of Democratic Party held on September 29 and 30 in Jeonbuk, and Gangwon·Daegu-Gyeongbuk, assemblyman Rhee In-je ranked first, becoming the leading candidate based on total number of votes (including the Incheon primary result).

sys1201@donga.com