Ruling, opposition parties compete for Gangwon Province

The governorship of Gangwon Province will be the top prize in the April 27 by-elections, with heavyweights from both the ruling and opposition parties being mentioned as candidates.

The ruling Grand National Party is more desperate than the opposition to claim the province since a loss in the by-elections will likely lead to the collapse of the party leadership under chairman Ahn Sang-soo. If the party suffers a defeat again in a region where conservative forces wield influence, it will face an uphill battle in both the general and presidential elections next year.

Public sentiment in the region is not favorable toward the ruling party, however. A key party member said, “Gangwon Province is divided into several areas, so we’ll win the election only if figures representing Gangneung, Wonju and Chuncheon (three cities in the province) fiercely compete against each other in the party primary and accept the result.”

This plan hit a snag, however, due to the Tuesday announcement by former lawmaker Lee Gye-jin from Wonju that he will not run for the governorship. His withdrawal from the race has undermined the ruling party’s attempt to boost its influence in the region by fielding three candidates: former MBC President Ohm Ki-young from Chuncheon, former Gangwon Deputy Gov. Choi Heung-jip from Gangneung, and Lee.

Some within the party say a figure more influential than Ohm is needed. This is why former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, a Chuncheon native, is being mentioned as a possible candidate.

Han is known to be the lone ruling party candidate who could beat former Finance and Economy Minister Kwon O-kyu, whom the main opposition Democratic Party is considering as its candidate for the governorship.

The Democratic Party cannot lower its guard, either. All party leaders went to Pyeongchang County Wednesday to hold a meeting with the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Bid Committee. They did so because the party has yet to find a candidate to replace former Gangwon Gov. Lee Kwang-jae, who lost his post after being convicted of bribery.

Democratic Party Secretary-General Lee Nak-yeon told CBS Radio, “Party chairman Sohn Hak-kyu has met Kwon twice but Kwon hasn’t changed his mind of not running in the election.”

This has caused voices to urge Lee Jung-sook, the wife of former Gov. Lee, to run in the election.

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