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By Yi Whan-woo
Saenuri Party candidates loyal to President Park Geun-hye struggled in Daegu and the party's other strongholds nationwide in the general election, Wednesday.
The loyalists were trailing their opponents in at least three constituencies in the President's hometown as of 10:35 p.m., according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The ruling party fielded candidates in 11 of the 12 districts in the southeastern city. It swept all 12 constituencies in the 2012 parliamentary elections.
Kim Boo-kyum, a former three term lawmaker and a candidate of the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), led Kim Moon-soo of the Saenuri Party 63 percent to 37 percent in the Suseong-A district.
Kim Moon-soo had served as Gyeonggi Province governor as a member of the ruling party.
Joo Ho-young, an independent, led Lee In-sun of the Saenuri Party 48.7 percent to 33.8 percent in Suseong-B.
Joo left the ruling party last month in protest of its decision to field Lee, a former North Gyeongsang province vice governor and a Park ally, in the constituency.
Independent Hong Ui-rak had the lead over the Saenuri Party's Yang Myung-mo, 53.9 percent to 37.7 percent, in Buk-A.
In Jongno, Seoul, Chung Sye-kyun of the MPK led former Seoul mayor and Saenuri Party contender Oh Se-hoon 53.5 percent to 38.9 percent.
In Incheon Seo-A, Hwang Yoo-yea of the Saenuri Party had 38.8 percent, trailing Shin Dong-keun of the MPK with 45.5 percent.
Hwang, a five-term lawmaker, also served as deputy prime minister for social affairs and minister of education under the Park government.
Meanwhile, other Cabinet officials under the Park administration ― Choi Kyoung-hwan, Chong Joing-sup and Choo Kyung-ho ― took the lead in their respective districts.
Cho was a former deputy minister on economic affairs and minister of strategy and finance.
He led Bae Yun-joo of the minor Justice Party 69.9 percent to 30.1 percent in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province.
Chong, who served as a minister of government administration and home affairs, led Yoo Sung-kull, an independent lawmaker, 49.9 percent to 42.7 percent in Daegu's Dong-A.
Yoo quit the Saenuri Party along with other minor faction members who were denied nominations.
Choo was a former minister of government policy coordination. He led Koo Sung-jae, an independent, 49.3 percent to 32.3 percent in Daegu's Dalseong.
