Who Will Smile in the April 15 General Election Among Former Seoul Deputy Mayors and District Mayors?

Yoon Jun-byeong, Administrative Deputy Mayor, running in his hometown Jeongeup and Gochang, Jeonbuk; Kang Tae-woong, Administrative Deputy Mayor, in Yongsan, Seoul; Kim Won-i, Political Deputy Mayor, in his hometown Mokpo; Ha Seung-chang, former Political Deputy Mayor, running in Jung-gu, Seoul... Former district mayors Lee Hae-sik (former Gangdong-gu Mayor), Yoo Jong-pil (former Gwanak-gu Mayor), Cha Seong-su (former Geumcheon-gu Mayor), Kim Young-bae (former Seongbuk-gu Mayor), and Kim Woo-young (former Eunpyeong-gu Mayor) are also actively competing for nomination rights

Yoon Jun-byeong, Former First Deputy Mayor of Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Former Seoul deputy mayors and district mayors are busily running to secure tickets for the April 15 general election.

Yoon Joon-byeong, former Seoul Administrative Deputy Mayor, was confirmed last year as the Democratic Party regional chairman for his hometown, Jeongeup·Gochang in Jeonbuk Province, and is actively working on the ground.

Candidate Yoon completed middle school in his hometown Jeongeup, graduated from the nationally prestigious Jeonju High School, entered Seoul National University, passed the civil service exam, worked in Jeonbuk for six years, then moved to Seoul during former Mayor Ko Gun’s administration, serving as head of the Transportation Headquarters, Chief of Staff, and finally as Administrative Deputy Mayor, a vice-ministerial position.

In particular, Candidate Yoon is recognized as Seoul’s top expert in transportation, playing a major role in the integration of Seoul Metro and the Urban Railroad Corporation into Seoul Transportation Corporation, earning strong recognition for his work from Mayor Park Won-soon.

Following him, Kang Tae-woong, former Administrative Deputy Mayor, also accepted the Democratic Party’s recruitment offer and is known to be busily running to run for Yongsan District, having graduated from Yongsan Middle and High Schools.

He graduated from Yongsan Middle and High Schools and Seoul National University, passed the civil service exam, and served in key positions in Seoul City such as Administrative Director, Spokesperson, and Chief of Staff before serving as Administrative Deputy Mayor.

Kang Tae-woong, former First Deputy Mayor of Seoul

In particular, Yongsan is classified as a strategic district as Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young has decided not to run in the general election, so it is expected that securing the nomination will not be difficult.

Also, Kim Won-i, former Seoul Political Deputy Mayor, is focusing on preparing for the party primary to become the Democratic Party candidate in his hometown Mokpo, Jeonnam.

In Mokpo, it is seen that whoever secures the Democratic Party candidate ticket will have a step ahead in entering the National Assembly, but there is also the challenge of overcoming the political heavyweight Park Ji-won, a member of the Alternative Party.

Former Deputy Mayor Kim is a direct senior to Ki Dong-min, former Seoul Political Deputy Mayor, who entered the National Assembly in the 20th general election, raising interest in whether two National Assembly members from the Political Deputy Mayor background during Mayor Park Won-soon’s era can be born.

Ha Seung-chang, former Political Deputy Mayor and former Blue House Senior Secretary for Social Innovation from a civic group background, has declared his candidacy for Jung-gu·Seongdong in Seoul and is actively working on the ground.

These four former deputy mayors are known as 'Park Won-soon Kids' who worked alongside Mayor Park Won-soon, and the number of them entering the National Assembly is expected to influence Mayor Park’s presidential prospects.

Earlier, Ryu Kyung-gi, former Administrative Deputy Mayor and current Mayor of Jungnang District, was elected as the 7th term Jungnang District Mayor and achieved significant results such as attracting the SH Corporation headquarters to Jungnang, laying a foundation for positive evaluations of former deputy mayors in politics.

Along with this, former district mayors from the 4th to 6th terms are also actively running.

Former Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Haesik

Lee Hae-sik, former Gangdong District Mayor, who was elected in a by-election during the 4th term and served three terms until the 6th term, is actively working as the Democratic Party spokesperson while striving to become the candidate for Gangdong Eul.

During his tenure as Gangdong District Mayor, Lee played a major role in significant regional developments such as the Godeok Business District development, as well as in animal welfare and urban agriculture revitalization.

Yu Jong-pil, former Gwanak District Mayor during the 5th and 6th terms, is actively working on the ground to become the Democratic Party candidate for Gwanak Eul.

During his tenure as Gwanak District Mayor, Yu achieved significant accomplishments such as establishing 'libraries within a 10-minute walk,' earning good evaluations from local residents.

Cha Seong-su, former Geumcheon District Mayor during the 5th and 6th terms, is challenging for a National Assembly seat in Geumcheon District, which he regards as his hometown, based on his strong track record in innovative administration and community activities.

He served as a sociology professor at Dong-A University and Senior Secretary for Civil Society during the Participatory Government, maintaining a close relationship with President Moon Jae-in, and after finishing his term as Geumcheon District Mayor, he served as chairman of the Korea Teachers' Credit Union.

Kim Young-bae, former Seongbuk District Mayor during the 5th and 6th terms, is one of President Moon Jae-in’s close aides, having served as Senior Secretary for Social Policy and Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House.

Yoo Jong-pil, former mayor of Gwanak District

During his tenure, former Seongbuk District Mayor Kim Young-bae demonstrated outstanding ability to identify advanced policy agendas such as resident participation administration.

Former Mayor Kim published a co-authored book with Min Hyung-bae, a preliminary candidate for Gwangsan (former Blue House Senior Secretary for Social Policy), and Kim Woo-young, a preliminary candidate for Eunpyeong Eul (former Blue House Secretary for Local Development), and held a book launch event to secure the Democratic Party nomination for Seongbuk Gap.

Kim Woo-young, former Eunpyeong District Mayor during the 5th and 6th terms, caused a stir by introducing the nation’s first resident participatory budgeting system during his tenure.

The resident participatory budgeting system is recognized as a representative participatory democracy administration, spreading not only in Seoul but also nationwide to metropolitan and local governments.

Thus, three former Seoul deputy mayors and five former district mayors are challenging for National Assembly seats, and attention is focused on how many will succeed.

Kim Young-bae, former mayor of Seongbuk-gu