Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
Reform New Party backs Cheon Ha-ram’s plan to run in Suncheon
The Reform New Party’s interim committee backed Cheon Ha-ram’s plan to run in Suncheon, in South Jeolla province.
It will lift its hold on his appointment as the party’s local organization chair and says it will confirm his nomination early.
In September, party interim leader Lee Gi-in had urged Cheon to run in southern Gyeonggi instead, as part of a strategy to focus party resources there.
Cheon rejected that request, and the committee later reconsidered its position.
Cheon said he would work harder on the ground in Suncheon and help the party’s southern Gyeonggi strategy through recruitment and policy work.
The party has not given a date for confirming his nomination.
The Reform New Party will respect lawmaker Cheon Ha-ram’s plan to run in Suncheon in the next general election.
The party’s emergency committee will lift its hold on appointing a Suncheon district committee chair and seek to confirm Cheon’s nomination early.
The decision settles an internal dispute after party leaders had urged Cheon to run in South Gyeonggi instead.
The party says it will maintain its strategy of focusing resources on South Gyeonggi.
Cheon said he would work harder in Suncheon and help the party’s broader strategy.
- Who
- The Reform New Party and its emergency committee, led by Lee Gi-in, agreed to respect Cheon Ha-ram’s choice.
- What
- The party will allow Cheon to pursue a run in Suncheon and plans to confirm his nomination early, while retaining its South Gyeonggi strategy.
- When
- October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea; the decision was announced at a party emergency committee meeting in Seoul.
- Why
- Cheon maintained that he wanted to run in Suncheon, and the committee said it needed to resolve the disagreement and allow him to focus on local activity.
Reform New Party emergency committee
Cheon Ha-ram
Preferred electoral approach
Reform New Party emergency committee
The committee had urged Cheon to run in South Gyeonggi as part of its regional strategy.
Cheon Ha-ram
Cheon maintained his intention to run in Suncheon.
Commitments after the decision
Reform New Party emergency committee
The committee said it would keep its South Gyeonggi focus and asked Cheon to support the strategy.
Cheon Ha-ram
Cheon said he would work harder in Suncheon and help the party with recruitment and policy.
Lee Gi-in announced a party renewal plan urging Cheon Ha-ram to run in South Gyeonggi and proposing to reject his application to lead the Suncheon district organization.
Cheon rejected the request to run in South Gyeonggi, and the party leadership reconsidered its position.
The emergency committee agreed to respect Cheon’s intention to run in Suncheon and said it would seek to confirm his nomination early.
- Candidate
- Cheon Ha-ram
- Party
- Reform New Party
- Intended constituency
- Suncheon, South Jeolla Province
- Alternative strategy
- South Gyeonggi
- Decision date
- October 29, 2026
- Nomination plan
- The party said it would seek to confirm Cheon’s Suncheon nomination early.
What people are saying
We will respect Cheon’s intention to run in Suncheon and lift the hold on appointing the Suncheon district committee chair.
Our view that the party should focus its resources on South Gyeonggi has not changed.
I am proud that the Reform New Party is a party that respects individual diversity and freedom rather than saying ‘party before self.’
I will work hard to ensure that you do not regret this decision.