Ruling Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate Park Young-sun has defeated Open Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jin-ai in a primary aimed at fielding a unified candidate from the ruling coalition. 

DP’s election campaign committee chief Kim Jong-min on Wednesday announced Park as the winner of the two-day primary. The result - which comes three weeks ahead of the April 7 by-elections - reflected votes by members of the two parties as well as votes by randomly chosen Seoul citizens at an equal portion. 

The specific numbers, however, were not made public in line with the National Election Committee’s decision to ban such an announcement when it comes to a primary involving multiple party affiliations. 

The primary was meant to draw public attention and drum up support for the ruling bloc ahead of the mayoral by-elections. But it was assessed as less successful than expected due in part to the growing public criticism over land investment irregularities involving public officials.