[This Person] 'Gwangjin-gu Worker' Jeon Hye-sook Joins as Supreme Council Member, Can She Revive the Democratic Party?

Assemblywoman Jeon Hye-sook (Seoul Gwangjin Gap) to Run in the Democratic Party's Supreme Council Member Election on May 2

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Although Assemblywoman Jeon Hye-sook is a three-term member of the National Assembly, she is always a lawmaker who tirelessly works on the ground for the local residents. I wholeheartedly support her candidacy in the upcoming Democratic Party Supreme Council election.”

A resident of Gwangjin District, Mr. A, expressed his honest feelings about Assemblywoman Jeon in this way.

Graduating from Yeungnam University College of Pharmacy, she started as a pharmacist in her hometown Chilgok, served as the re-elected president of the Gyeongbuk Pharmacists Association, and began her political career as a proportional representative in the 18th National Assembly in 2008. Since entering the National Assembly, she has been known as the “well-connected lawmaker” representing Seoul Gwangjin Gap in the 20th and 21st National Assembly.

In the recent April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, she was recognized as the most dedicated assemblywoman working for the election of candidate Park Young-sun as the head of the functional division of the Democratic Party Central Election Committee.

Especially on the morning of the 31st of last month, at the back gate of Children’s Grand Park in her constituency, about 600 local residents gathered at the campaign rally supporting candidate Park Young-sun, held together with Lee Nak-yeon, chairman of the Central Election Committee, surprising even Chairman Lee.

It was reported that even residents who did not support candidate Park in this election attended the rally because of their connection with Assemblywoman Jeon, indicating her strong bond with the local constituents.

Assemblywoman Jeon is also known as a politician who maintains relationships once formed until the end. It is well known that she cherishes connections with everyone from the Democratic Party’s central security guards and sanitation workers to ordinary party officials and executives.

Her habit of valuing “human relationships” above all is said to have started when she was a pharmacist in her hometown. Assemblywoman Jeon said, “When I was a pharmacist in Daegu, I never let customers leave empty-handed, even if it was just a bottle of Bacchus,” indirectly showing how she developed a habit of valuing people above all, adding, “In the end, these customers increased the pharmacy’s sales.”

However, with candidate Park feeling a sense of loss so severe it affected her health after failing in the Seoul mayoral election, party members around Assemblywoman Jeon urged her to run for the Supreme Council, leading to her candidacy in the party convention scheduled for May 2. Assemblywoman Jeon said, “The party is in difficulty with the entire leadership resigning, and party members around me strongly requested that I run for the Supreme Council, so I decided to run,” adding, “If I enter the party leadership, I will help the party regain its footing and find a way to earn the love of the people.”

Assemblywoman Jeon is expected to feel a great sense of crisis as a party member due to the poor results in the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections. Although her own constituency managed to hold on with a narrow margin, the party overall suffered a significant defeat, making her realize that the party is at a critical moment for survival.

She humbly accepted that this election reflected a harsh national judgment on the administration, compounded by issues such as real estate, and expressed her determination to serve her local constituents diligently to regain the hearts of the people without neglect.

Assemblywoman Jeon is also known to have been more proactive than any previous lawmaker in taking care of the Gwangjin District. She played a major role in attracting community convenience facilities such as a performance hall and children’s center within the Junggok-dong medical complex, establishing the Youth Zero Gravity Zone at Gunja Station, founding the Social Enterprise Support Center, constructing the Dong Resident Center on the sports site in Gwangjang-dong, and creating the Achasan Trail.

Lee Nak-yeon, Chairman of the Central Election Committee, and Assemblywoman Jeon Hye-sook are campaigning in support of Seoul mayoral candidate Park Young-sun around Children's Grand Park on the 31st of last month.

Attention is focused on whether Assemblywoman Jeon can enter the party leadership as a “firefighter” who can save the Democratic Party beyond being the “best worker” in Gwangjin District.

A resident of Gwangjin District, Mr. B, said, “Assemblywoman Jeon Hye-sook not only works hard for regional development but also consistently treats residents with the same attitude, and I am moved every time I meet her.”

It was confirmed that many residents of Gwangjin District share this hope.