[6.1 Local Election] Lee Jeong-hoon, Independent Candidate for Gangdong District Mayor, Seeks Re-election

The district mayor, who left the Democratic Party last year, registered as an independent candidate on the 2nd to run for district mayor... This raises attention as the possibility of last-minute unification cannot be ruled out amid a multi-candidate race including Democratic Party's former Seoul City Council Chairman Yang Jun-wook, People Power Party's Lee Soo-hee, and independent Lee Jung-hoon.

Lee Jeong-hoon, candidate for Mayor of Gangdong-gu, is visiting residents on the 7th, appealing for support and exchanging greetings.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, has announced his candidacy as an independent candidate in the June 1 local elections, aiming for re-election as mayor.

After leaving his party last year, Mayor Lee decided to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming June 1 local elections to seek the judgment of the residents as an independent.

On the 2nd, after registering as a candidate for Gangdong-gu mayor, he posted on his Facebook, "I have completed the preliminary candidate registration as an independent for the upcoming June 1 local elections and intend to challenge for re-election as mayor of Gangdong-gu."

He said, "Over the past four years, Gangdong-gu has grown remarkably and has been recognized as the most dynamic and innovative city in Seoul," adding, "I believe that the seeds of innovation sown in Gangdong need another four years to take stronger root and bear many fruits of growth."

He also stated, "Now, the era of Gangdong with a population of 550,000, the third largest in Seoul, is opening. I am confident that Gangdong will surpass the Gangnam 4 districts and become a leading city in Seoul."

In a phone interview with a reporter on the 7th, Candidate Lee conveyed that "residents have been giving a lot of encouragement." On the same day, he toured various areas of Gangdong-gu, greeting residents and appealing for support.

With this, the race for Gangdong-gu mayor is expected to become a multi-candidate contest featuring Yang Jun-wook, former chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from the Democratic Party, Lee Soo-hee from the People Power Party, and independent candidate Lee Jeong-hoon.

Mayor Lee's independent candidacy has raised concerns about vote splitting within the ruling party, and there is also speculation that a last-minute unification of candidates might still be possible, drawing attention.

Meanwhile, Lee, originally from Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, and a former activist at Sogang University, was elected mayor of Gangdong-gu in 2018 as a member of the Democratic Party after serving as a Seoul city councilor.