Candidates begin registering for April 27 by-elections

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Candidates for next month's parliamentary and local by-elections began registering their bids with the election agency Tuesday, setting in motion a race seen as an important test for major parties ahead of next year's general election and presidential vote.
Three parliamentary seats, one gubernatorial post and 19 other local seats are up for grabs in the April 27 elections that will be a face-off between the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and the opposition bloc formed between the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and three minor groups.
Early Tuesday, the opposition coalition picked Lee Bong-soo of the minor People's Participation Party (PPP) as its candidate for a parliamentary seat representing Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, a key boost for the minority party formed with supporters of late former President Roh Moo-hyun.
Lee faces ruling GNP candidate Kim Tae-ho, who had been nominated as prime minister last year before voluntarily withdrawing the designation following allegations of his suspected connection to a local businessman at the center of a high-profile bribery scandal.
The minor opposition PPP is led by former Health Minister Rhyu Si-min, who is considered the "political bodyguard" for the late president who committed suicide in 2009 amid a widening investigation into corruption involving aides and his family.
Rhyu's political fortunes are seen as at stake in this month's election as he is trying to lay ground for the future of his fledgling party, which currently holds no seat in the 299-member parliament. Rhyu himself is also considered a potential candidate for next year's presidential election.
In the district of Bundang, south of Seoul, main opposition DP leader Sohn Hak-kyu and veteran GNP lawmaker Kang Jae-sup registered to compete for a parliamentary seat in the affluent metropolitan suburban region.
To fill a vacant seat in the eastern province of Gangwon, the rival parties have fielded high-profile candidates who had worked for broadcast company MBC. The GNP picked a former star anchor and CEO, Ohm Ki-young, and the DP put up Ohm's predecessor, Choi Moon-soon.
The parliamentary slot in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, has been the DP's traditional stronghold.
After registration closes on Wednesday, the official 13-day campaign period will start on Thursday.
ejkim@yna.co.kr