Stories from Busan · South Korea

Fourteen out of seventeen People Power Party lawmakers in the Busan region reportedly agree on the need for candidate unification. The lawmakers stated the primary motivation is to ensure victory in the upcoming election. Three members of the group reportedly do not support this consensus. Former National Intelligence Service Minister Park Min-sik and former KBS reporter Lee Young-pung stated there will be no unification of candidates for the People Power Party primary in Busan. The two candidates met with reporters after an interview to clarify their positions. Park Min-sik addressed questions regarding potential pressure from party leadership to unify candidates. No major clashes occurred during protests by supporters of Governor Kim Kwan-young and Representative Ahn Ho-young.

Ha Jung-woo, a senior secretary at the Blue House, has submitted his resignation to President Lee Jae-myung. Ha is being recruited by the Democratic Party as a candidate for the Busan Buk-gu Gap district. Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon criticized the move, suggesting that if President Lee directed Ha to run in Busan, it would constitute illegal election interference. Local voters in Busan are reportedly evaluating candidates based on regional engagement rather than party affiliation.