[Political X-File] A Democratic Party Mayor in Gumi, the Hometown of Park Chung-hee...

⑤2018 Local Elections, TK Democratic Party Basic Unit Chief
Candidate Jang Seyong Wins with 40.8%, Major Upset
Shocked Conservatives Reclaim Gumi Mayor Position 4 Years Later

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Political X-File’ is a series that delivers ‘unprecedented stories’ recorded in the election results and incidents of Korean politics.

Gumi, Gyeongbuk is the hometown of former Presidents Park Jeong-hee and Park Geun-hye. It is known as a place with so-called ‘Park Jeong-hee nostalgia’ and is called the conservative heartland even within Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK). In fact, various election results have reflected this.

It has been an impregnable region for parties affiliated with the Democratic Party. It was hard to even imagine a Democratic Party candidate becoming the mayor of Gumi. However, on June 15, 2018, during the 7th nationwide simultaneous local elections, the long-standing political norm was broken.

The only Democratic Party basic local government head elected in TK was from Gumi. Democratic Party candidate Jang Se-yong won the Gumi mayoral election with 74,917 votes (40.8%). Lee Yang-ho, the candidate from the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), received 71,055 votes (38.7%) and tasted defeat.

Although many basic local government heads were elected in the 7th local elections, the figure who attracted nationwide attention was undoubtedly the mayor of Gumi. It was shocking in itself that, for the first time in history, a Democratic Party basic local government head was elected in TK, especially in the conservative heartland.

Mayor Jang said in his victory speech, “This is the result of the citizens’ earnest desire to change the one-party monopoly of local power.” Mayor Jang is a native of Indong, Gumi, and a former professor at Busan National University who graduated from Daegu Commercial High School and Yeungnam University’s Department of History.

Mayor Jang’s victory was based on support from areas densely populated by young people and industrial complex regions. In Indong-dong, Mayor Jang secured 8,263 votes, widening the gap from candidate Lee’s 5,388 votes. He also showed strength in Gongdan 1-dong and 2-dong. Especially in Jinmi-dong (2,825 votes) and Yangpo-dong (8,189 votes), he received a landslide vote amounting to twice that of candidate Lee.

Gumi, where companies related to the industrial complex are concentrated, is considered the youngest city in TK. The general analysis is that Mayor Jang’s election reflected the voting sentiment of the younger generation. It was not easy for a Democratic Party mayor to engage in politics in Gumi, where conservative sentiment runs deep.

Although he was elected mayor, the underlying sentiment in TK had not changed. Moreover, discord continued over major local issues such as the memorial projects for former President Park Jeong-hee.

While expressing respect for those who admire former President Park Jeong-hee, Mayor Jang also held the political conviction that Gumi should not be mired in Park Jeong-hee nostalgia. Ultimately, Mayor Jang’s term ended in June 2022.

Mayor Jang ran again as the Democratic Party candidate in the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections on June 1, 2022, but lost with only 38,196 votes (26.9%). Kim Jang-ho of the People Power Party won with 99,751 votes (70.3%). Thus, Gumi returned to being a conservative stronghold.