Min Hyung-bae Gwangsan-eul (Mokpo High), Lee Hyung-seok Gwangju Buk-eul (Suncheon High), Joo Cheol-hyun Yeosu Gap (Yeosu High) 28th Graduates, 21st General Election Gold Badge Holders, Upholding the Honor of Jeonnam Prestigious High Schools
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] In the 21st general election, it became a hot topic that classmates from the 28th graduating class of the three prestigious high schools in Jeonnam?Mokpo High School, Suncheon High School, and Yeosu High School?were elected as members of the National Assembly.
The main figures are Min Hyung-bae from Gwangju Gwangsan, Lee Hyung-seok from Gwangju Buk, and Joo Cheol-hyun from Yeosu Gap, Jeonnam.
These three elected officials, who graduated in 1979, have taken different paths in life but have been praised for bringing honor to their alma mater by entering the National Assembly for the first time 41 years after graduating from high school.
Min Hyung-bae, an alumnus of Mokpo High School’s 28th class, is a former journalist who was dismissed from Jeonnam Ilbo after graduating from Chonnam National University’s graduate school with a Ph.D. in Sociology. After finishing his role as editorial writer and leaving the company, he led the local autonomy movement as the representative of Participation Autonomy 21, entered the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration as a personnel management officer in the Presidential Secretariat, served as social coordination secretary, and ran for the 2010 local election for the 5th term Gwangsan District Mayor, winning with the highest votes nationwide.
During his tenure as Gwangsan District Mayor, he was the first in the nation to convert non-regular employees to regular positions, demonstrating a nationwide model of resident-led administration to the extent of authoring the book "Autonomy is Progress," and served consecutively as Gwangsan District Mayor for eight years through the 6th term.
Afterward, Min re-entered the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in administration, serving as Secretary for Local Development and Secretary for Social Policy, gaining recognition for his ability to serve consecutively as a Blue House secretary under both the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations.
In this general election, Min was honored with the highest nationwide vote share, receiving 96,808 votes (84%). Since achieving the highest vote share nationwide in the 5th term Gwangsan District Mayor election, Min set a record as the "two-time national highest vote share champion" by also achieving the highest vote share in the 21st National Assembly election.
Notably, Min’s vote share surpasses that of Kim Jong-tae of the Saenuri Party, who recorded the highest vote share in the 20th general election (Gyeongbuk Sangju-Gunwi-Uiseong-Cheongsong, 77.7%), and Lee Cheol-woo of the Saenuri Party, who achieved the highest vote share in the 19th general election (Gyeongbuk Gimcheon, 83.5%).
In an interview immediately after his election, Min said, "I will work for a 'country worthy of the people,' which the candlelight citizens so earnestly desired," emphasizing, "I will recreate a democratic government and complete reform tasks." He also promised, "Although COVID-19 is subsiding, we cannot be complacent yet. As always, I will stand together to overcome the crisis through solidarity and cooperation."
He especially stated, "I will not lose my original intention and will repay with citizen-centered politics," and added, "I will be recognized as a hardworking politician and a National Assembly member who delivers results."
Lee Hyung-seok, elected from Gwangju Buk-eul, is an alumnus of Suncheon High School’s 28th class. After graduating from Chosun University Law School, he built a politically distinguished career, serving as chairman of the Gwangju Bank labor union, chairman of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, secretary in the Presidential Secretariat, deputy mayor of Gwangju, and a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
In this general election, Lee won with 108,229 votes (78.82%), defeating incumbent Minsheng Party lawmaker Choi Kyung-hwan.
Lee promised, "I will prepare a regional industrial development plan reflecting local conditions, focusing on innovative visions and goals for Gwangju’s new growth engine industries, including specific investment directions and appropriate investment scales, and incorporate this into future legislative activities," adding, "I will continue to promote the development of Gwangju and Buk-gu through ongoing communication with the region."
Joo Cheol-hyun, elected from Yeosu Gap and a graduate of Yeosu High School’s 28th class, graduated from Sungkyunkwan University Law School, passed the bar exam, and served as head of the violent crimes division at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, chief prosecutor of Gwangju District, and chief prosecutor of Changwon District.
Afterward, he was elected as the 6th term Yeosu Mayor, transforming into an administrator, and challenged the National Assembly election this time, winning with 48,410 votes (64%), defeating incumbent independent lawmaker Lee Yong-joo.
During his tenure as Yeosu Mayor, Joo proposed the "debt zero city" initiative and eliminated 90 billion won of debt over four years through sound fiscal management.
Thus, Joo has recorded a distinguished career as a chief prosecutor, mayor, and National Assembly member.
In the Gwangju and Jeonnam region, since 1977 when the Gwangju area was equalized, Mokpo High School, Suncheon High School, and Yeosu High School established their status as prestigious high schools in Jeonnam, replacing Gwangju Ilgo and Gwangju High School, which were the top prestigious schools in the Gwangju area.
In particular, while Mokpo High School was equalized starting in 1982, Suncheon High School continued to hold entrance exams for a considerable period, attracting talented students nationwide. In this general election, Suncheon High School demonstrated its nationwide prestigious status by having six members elected to the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Mokpo High School has produced several National Assembly members, including Choi Young-cheol (3rd class, former Vice Speaker of the National Assembly), Jeong Si-chae (former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), Jeon Seok-hong (former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs), Kim Jang-gon (5th class), Han Hwa-gap (8th class, former leader of the Millennium Democratic Party), Cheon Jeong-bae and Yoo Seon-ho (21st class), Bu Jwa-hyun (24th class), Yoon So-hwa (29th class), and Ahn Hyung-hwan (31st class). Now, Min Hyung-bae from the 28th class has donned the gold badge of the 21st National Assembly.
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