[Politics, That Day...] Memories of the Judicial Examination That Decided the Outcome of the 'Gwanak Battle'

2015 April 29 By-Election, Saenuri Party's Victory in Conservative Stronghold
Oh Shin-hwan's 'Maintain Bar Exam' Message Shakes Voter Sentiment in Gwanak-gu Parliamentary Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

On May 30, the last holiday of May 2020, citizens visiting Gwanaksan in Sillim-dong, Seoul, enjoyed the holiday in light attire. On this day, the highest daytime temperature in the Seoul area rose to 28 degrees Celsius, marking early summer weather. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Gwanak-eul in Seoul is a nightmare district for conservative parties preparing for the National Assembly elections. Until 2015, the Democratic Party repeatedly suffered consecutive defeats against the Democratic Party’s stronghold in Gwanak-eul. The keywords symbolizing Gwanak-eul are Seoul National University, Sillim-dong, and the Judicial Examination.

The history of the Gwanak-eul area is intertwined with the history of the ‘Sillim-dong Gosi Village.’ Those who dreamed of preparing for the judicial examination in South Korea flocked to the ‘Sillim-dong Gosi Village,’ and their very presence was the backbone of the local economy. Relatively many young people lived there, and there were many working-class residents.

The Democratic Party was a district that could not be lost and must not be lost. Even in the 18th general election in 2008, which recorded the worst results in the Democratic Party’s general election history, Gwanak-eul was defended.

The equation ‘Gwanak-eul = Conservative’s stronghold’ was naturally solidified through the election results of Korean politics.

Nokdu Street in Daehak-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul (formerly Sillim 8-dong). The empty spaces left by those preparing for the bar exam are now being filled by civil service exam candidates. Due to hopeful anticipation of a delay in the abolition of the bar exam, new bar exam takers are also moving into the "Sillim-dong Gosi Village."

The cracks began with the April 29, 2015 by-election. In the election called the ‘Gwanak Great Battle,’ the Saenuri Party caught a big fish. It was an exemplary election victory where the three elements of candidate, structure, and strategy harmonized perfectly.

The Saenuri Party fielded candidate Oh Shin-hwan, who was well-versed in local issues. Oh Shin-hwan is a native of the area who attended elementary, middle, and high school in Gwanak-gu. He also served as a city council member in Gwanak-gu and had experience running for the National Assembly. He knew better than anyone what the residents of Gwanak-eul wanted.

The election structure was also favorable to the Saenuri Party. With Jeong Dong-young running as an independent candidate, a favorable structure for the Saenuri Party was formed. Jeong Dong-young was the leader of the largest faction of the Uri Party and had political roots in Honam. The traditional Democratic Party voter base in Gwanak-eul was split between the New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s Jeong Tae-ho and independent Jeong Dong-young at that time.

The decisive reason Oh Shin-hwan could gain momentum was his strategy that tapped into local public sentiment. Gwanak-eul and the judicial examination were inseparable. The reason people gathered in that area, and the reason numerous academies, boarding houses, and shops there could survive, were all related to the judicial examination.

At the time of the April 29, 2015 by-election, the judicial examination was on borrowed time. It was being phased out in line with the establishment of the law school system. Oh Shin-hwan stimulated the local desire for the ‘preservation of the judicial examination.’

Voters in Gwanak-eul listened to Oh Shin-hwan’s campaign slogan. The expectation that the judicial examination might be preserved if Oh Shin-hwan entered the National Assembly swayed the local vote. The final vote count showed Saenuri Party candidate Oh Shin-hwan with 43.89%, New Politics Alliance for Democracy candidate Jeong Tae-ho with 34.20%, and independent Jeong Dong-young with 20.15%. The conservative party succeeded in entering Gwanak-eul, which had been almost impregnable.

The April 29 by-election was a case showing that specific policy issues can determine the results of National Assembly elections. In politics, there are no permanent strongholds or permanent bases.

The judicial examination disappeared into history after the last exam in December 2017, but the debate continues. Some argue that the revival of the judicial examination is necessary to supplement the current law school system, while others are concerned about the debate itself.

The issue of reviving the judicial examination is closely related to the foundation of South Korea’s legal professional training system. It is expected to be a topic of interest in the 2022 presidential election as well. What solutions will the candidates from both parties propose? How will voters evaluate their solutions?