Ha Jung-woo, presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) policy and future planning, is nearing a decision on whether to run in the by-election for a National Assembly seat representing Busan’s Buk-A constituency, with ruling party officials pointing to a possible announcement as early as this week. The by-election, set to be held alongside the June 3 local elections, has quickly emerged as one of the most closely watched races nationwide. The seat opened after Rep. Chun Jae-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) stepped down to run for Busan mayor, but the contest took on a wider dimension when former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon announced his bid as an independent. Ha’s potential candidacy is widely viewed as part of a broader strategy by the DPK to frame the by-elections as a test of the Lee Jae Myung administration’s governing agenda. By putting forward a figure closely associated with its flagship AI policy, the party appears to be seeking to highlight its focus on future industries while reinforcing its reform credentials. Party officials sa
