Junggu Kim Gilsung Elected, Defeating Incumbent District Mayor Seo Yangho by 489 Votes
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] In the June 1 local elections, Jeong Munheon, former National Assembly member, was elected as the mayor of Jongno-gu, Seoul, and Kim Gilsung, the People Power Party candidate and former presidential office administrator, was elected as the mayor of Jung-gu.
For the Jongno-gu mayor, Jeong Munheon, the People Power Party candidate and former two-term lawmaker, defeated candidate Yoo Chan-jong by a margin of 3,068 votes, marking the first time a People Power Party candidate was elected after former Democratic Party mayor Kim Young-jong served three terms.
Kim Gilsung, the People Power Party candidate for Jung-gu mayor, narrowly defeated the incumbent Jung Yang-ho of the Democratic Party by 489 votes.
Additionally, Park Heeyoung, the People Power Party candidate and special advisor to Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se, was elected mayor of Yongsan-gu, and Jeong Wono, the incumbent, was re-elected as mayor of Seongdong-gu. Yongsan is a region with a strong conservative base, and Park’s victory was anticipated early on. Park won against Democratic Party candidate Kim Cheolsik by a margin of 24,000 votes.
Notably, Jeong Wono, mayor of Seongdong-gu, demonstrated his strength by defeating People Power Party candidate Kang Maenghun by 21,080 votes in Seongdong-gu, where during the last presidential election, People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-yeol won over Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung by about 20,000 votes (10%).
Moreover, Mayor Jeong is regarded as having established the "Jeong Wono stronghold" in Seongdong-gu, having served as an aide to National Assembly member Lim Jong-seok, who is from Seongdong-gu, for eight years and as mayor of Seongdong-gu for another eight years.
In Gwangjin-gu, People Power Party candidate Kim Kyungho defeated incumbent Kim Seongap of the Democratic Party by about 3,800 votes, ushering in an era of conservative party mayors for the first time in 12 years since the 4th term of direct elections. Kim, a veteran, is a former administrative examination pass and has served as deputy mayor of Gwangjin-gu, director of urban transportation, director of welfare, and chief of the city council office (grade 1), and later as president of the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation. Notably, Kim was recruited by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as the People Power Party regional committee head for Gwangjin Eul and ran for mayor of Gwangjin-gu. Throughout the election, Kim emphasized his expertise in urban administration and his commitment to developing Gwangjin-gu alongside Mayor Oh, earning the honor of victory from local residents.
In Dongdaemun-gu, People Power Party candidate Lee Pilhyung defeated Democratic Party candidate Choi Dongmin by about 9,000 votes, opening an era of conservative mayors after 12 years.
Lee, a former National Intelligence Service official, is expected to be the only person from the NIS to be elected as a Seoul district mayor.
In the mayoral race for Jungnang-gu, a contest between former Seoul deputy mayors, incumbent Ryu Kyunggi defeated People Power Party candidate Na Jingu.
In Dobong-gu, People Power Party candidate Oh Eonseok defeated Democratic Party candidate Kim Yongseok by about 2,400 votes.
Oh, a former aide to ex-National Assembly member Kim Seondong, started his political career as a secretary to former lawmaker Kim Geuntae and attracted attention by defeating a local native who served three terms as a Dobong-gu council member and three terms as a Seoul city council member.
In Eunpyeong-gu, Democratic Party candidate and incumbent Kim Mikyung defeated People Power Party candidate Nam Gijeong by about 7,000 votes, securing re-election.
In Yangcheon-gu, People Power Party candidate Lee Gijae defeated incumbent Kim Sooyoung by more than 20,000 votes.
Jeon Seongsu, former deputy mayor of Incheon, was elected mayor of Seocho-gu, and Jo Seongmyeong, former chairman of the Gangnam-gu council, was elected mayor of Gangnam-gu.
Jeon Seongsu, the elected mayor of Seocho-gu, received over 71% of the vote, the highest among the 25 district mayors of Seoul in the 8th term of direct elections.
Jo Seongmyeong, the elected mayor of Gangnam-gu, also received over 70% of the vote, defeating incumbent Jung Soongyun, who garnered about 30%.
Jo, the Gangnam-gu mayor-elect, showed remarkable strength by emerging as a last-minute candidate amid a chaotic People Power Party primary and easily won the general election in the party’s stronghold.
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