PPP candidate edges out rivals in tight three-way race against Democratic Party, Cho Kuk Rebuilding Party

People Power Party candidate Yoo Eui-dong waves to reporters at his campaign office in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday after his victory in the by-election for the Pyeongtaek-eul constituency became certain. [Yonhap]
People Power Party candidate Yoo Eui-dong waves to reporters at his campaign office in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday after his victory in the by-election for the Pyeongtaek-eul constituency became certain. [Yonhap]

People Power Party candidate Yoo Eui-dong won the National Assembly by-election for the Pyeongtaek-eul constituency in Gyeonggi Province on Thursday, prevailing in a tight five-way race that effectively came down to a three-way contest among Yoo, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Yong-nam and Cho Kuk Rebuilding Party candidate Cho Kuk.

Victory was not confirmed until after 2 a.m. Thursday. With 99.8 percent of ballots counted as of 7 a.m. that day, Yoo had received 33,513 votes for a 34.83 percent share, according to the National Election Commission's election statistics system. Kim followed with 28.76 percent and Cho with 27.24 percent. The margin between Yoo and Kim was just 5,838 votes.

Yoo visited his campaign office around 2 a.m., when his win became certain, and expressed his gratitude to voters. "I am deeply thankful to the people of Pyeongtaek for trusting me and giving me another chance to serve," he said, adding that he would work to establish Pyeongtaek as a central city of South Korea and deliver tangible improvements to residents' lives.

Yoo is a veteran lawmaker who had previously won three consecutive terms in the Pyeongtaek-eul district. He entered politics as a secretary to former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong and first won a seat in July 2014 through a by-election for the 19th National Assembly's Pyeongtaek-eul constituency, held after incumbent Rep. Lee Jae-young was stripped of his seat for violating the Public Official Election Act. He ran as a Saenuri Party candidate and won, then secured reelection in the 20th and 21st general elections, serving as policy committee chairman of the People Power Party and president of the Yeouido Institute. In the April 2024 general election, he ran in the newly created Pyeongtaek-byeong constituency and lost.

Analysts attributed Yoo's victory in large part to a split in the progressive vote. Support on the left was divided among Kim, Cho and Progressive Party candidate Kim Jae-yeon. Their combined vote share reached 58.95 percent.


soho0902@heraldcorp.com