Who Among Former Senior Officials of Seoul City Is Preparing for the District Mayor Election?

Former Gwangjin District Deputy Mayor Kim Kyung-ho running for Gwangjin District Mayor · Former Seoul City Spokesperson Hwang In-sik running for Seocho District Mayor · Former Blue House Administrator Choi Ho-kwon running for Yeongdeungpo District Mayor... Former Seongbuk District Deputy Mayor Kim Byung-hwan and Former Gangseo District Mayor Moon Hong-sun also intend to run... Among Seoul City Council members, Chair Kim In-ho preparing for Dongdaemun District Mayor and Councilor Kim Yong-seok preparing for Dobong District Mayor

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] This year marks the historic 3.9 presidential election and the 6.1 local elections.

With the presidential election just 46 days away as of the 22nd, each party's presidential candidates and their supporters are engaged in a fierce battle to seize the presidency.

Meanwhile, with the 8th term of the local elections just over five months away, the number of high-ranking Seoul city officials and former city council members preparing for the Seoul district mayor elections is gradually increasing.

In particular, prospective candidates who have passed the civil service exam and served as senior Seoul city officials or deputy district mayors are increasingly focused on preparing for the district mayor elections.

Kim Kyung-ho, a former president of the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation (Garak Market), who served as Seoul City’s Transportation Headquarters Director, Welfare Headquarters Director, Deputy Mayor of Gwangjin District, and Secretary-General of the City Council (Grade 1), was recruited by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and appointed as the People Power Party’s Gwangjin District Committee Chairman. It appears highly likely that Kim will run as the People Power Party candidate for Gwangjin District Mayor in the June 1 local elections.

Hwang In-sik, a former Seoul City Administrative Director (Grade 2), spokesperson, and Han River Project Headquarters Director, who also passed the civil service exam, is running to become the People Power Party candidate for Seocho District Mayor in this local election. After passing the exam, Hwang served as a section chief and director at Seocho District Office, demonstrating excellent communication skills with local residents and earning strong trust from Seocho District Office officials, increasing his chances of winning if nominated.

Also, Choi Ho-kwon, acting director of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, who began his public service career as the Culture and Public Relations Director of Yeongdeungpo District, and served as Seoul City Policy Secretary, Presidential Secretariat Administrative Officer, Planning and Management Officer at the National Science and Technology Council, and Consul General in India, is reportedly touring the area to run as the People Power Party candidate for Yeongdeungpo District Mayor.

Additionally, Kim Byung-hwan, former Deputy Mayor of Seongbuk District, and Moon Hong-seon, Deputy Mayor of Gangseo District, both civil service exam passers, are preparing for the Seongbuk and Gangseo District Mayor elections as candidates for the Democratic Party.

These two deputy mayors are increasing contact with local residents by exchanging greetings at subway stations and other locations as members of the presidential candidate election campaign committees.

Kim Byung-hwan faces the difficult challenge of competing in a primary against the current Seongbuk District Mayor Lee Seung-ro.

Moon Hong-seon faces inevitable competition with other prospective candidates since the current Gangseo District Mayor Noh Hyun-song, having served three terms, cannot run again.

Among Seoul city council members, Kim In-ho, the Seoul City Council Chairman, is expected to run for Dongdaemun District Mayor; former chairman Shin Won-chul and Democratic Party floor leader Cho Sang-ho are expected to run for Seodaemun District Mayor; and former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Yong-seok is expected to run for Dobong District Mayor.

Seoul City Council member Kim Yong-seok is expected to formalize his election bid with a book launch event on the 22nd.

Many other Seoul city council members are also expected to run for district mayor positions.

This year, with two nationwide elections scheduled, political aspirants are intensifying their challenges.