Jonghun Kim of the Progressive Party Accepts Request for Ulsan Mayoral Unification Re-Primary... Four Days After Suspension

Jonghoon Kim, the Progressive Party candidate for Ulsan mayor, accepted the request for a re-run of the unification primary proposed by Sangwook Kim, the Democratic Party candidate, on May 27.

On this day, Kim held a press conference in Ulsan in the afternoon, stating, "I will answer the citizens' desire to unite behind a single democratic and progressive candidate to eradicate the forces of insurrection and achieve a major transformation in Ulsan."

(Ulsan=Yonhap News) Reporter Yongtae Kim = On the 15th, at the Ulsan City Council press center, the Ulsan branch of the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party announced an agreement to unify their candidates for the Ulsan mayoral election in the June 3 local elections. After the announcement, Democratic Party candidate Sangwook Kim (right) and Progressive Party candidate Jonghoon Kim shook hands. May 15, 2026 yongtae@yna.co.kr (End)

This decision appears to have been made just one day before the de facto deadline for unification. The unification must be finalized before early voting begins, so that the word 'withdrawn' is indicated next to the name of any candidate who withdraws on the ballot paper.

He said, "There were moments when I felt insulted, as if I was being told I am not qualified to be the unified democratic and progressive candidate. Nevertheless, I thought about the urgent need to prevent ongoing conflict and division within the democratic and progressive bloc, and the responsibility to unite all citizens who wish for the eradication of insurrection."

Kim went on, "What I thought about most last night was the heart of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. I kept recalling where President Roh placed his heart when he made his big decision to unify with Chung Mong-joon in 2002. After much thought, I realized it was only for the people."

He continued, "Now, please do not take sides with either Jonghoon Kim or Sangwook Kim, but join together on one side for the eradication of insurrection."

Previously, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party had agreed to unify their candidates for Ulsan mayor and planned to announce a unified candidate after holding a primary through public opinion polls from May 24 to 25. However, the process was halted when the Sangwook Kim camp raised concerns that a particular group might be intervening in the polling method and pointed out the absence of a clause preventing strategic voting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.