Ex-SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun has been named the ruling Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate in the April 7 by-election. 

The ruling Democratic Party announced on Monday that the former journalist turned politician led her rival Rep. Woo Sang-ho in the primary race by a wide margin, with 69-point-56 percent of the overall votes to his 30-point-44 percent. 

The party had tallied ballots from party members holding voting rights and general voters, giving each group 50 percent. It said Park garnered a majority in both - 63-point-54 percent of the party member ballots and 71-point-48 percent of the general ballots.

The party nomination paves the way for Park Young-sun's third run for the Seoul mayoral post following bids in 2011 and 2018.