[Politics X-File] Historic 20-Year Battle of Election Rivals in Seodaemun

⑮ Yonsei Alumni Woo Sang-ho and Lee Sung-heon, an Astonishing Rivalry
Woo Sang-ho Elected 4 Times, Lee Sung-heon Elected Twice as National Assembly Members
Who Will Be the New Owner of Seoul Seodaemun-gap in 2024?

Editor's Note"Political X-Files" is a serialized project that delivers the "all-time stories" recorded in the election results and incidents of Korean politics.

In National Assembly elections, so-called political rivals exist. They are found within the party and also in competing parties. Rival parties that clash fiercely every general election are a thorn in the side.

"If only that person weren't there..."

The thought that a smooth political path might open up. It is a feeling anyone would naturally experience.

There are two people who have faced off in such general election battles for 20 years. They were always the candidates for that district's general election. And one of the two was elected each time. Since 2000 up to 2023, that district has produced only two National Assembly members over more than 20 years.

The epic general election rivalry between these two took place in Seoul Seodaemun-gu Gap district.

On October 12, 2022, students are walking around the campus at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Among the all-time general election rivals in Korean politics, these two are considered one of the fiercest matchups. The protagonists are Representative Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seoul Seodaemun-gu from the People Power Party. Their long-standing rivalry dates back to the 2000 16th general election.

Both of their constituencies include their alma mater Yonsei University. Representative Woo Sang-ho graduated from Yonsei University's Department of Korean Language and Literature. Mayor Lee Seong-heon graduated from Yonsei University's Department of Public Administration. They also share the commonality of having been student council presidents at Yonsei University.

However, Representative Woo Sang-ho led the Yonsei University student council as a member of the National Council of Student Representatives (Jeondaehyeop) during the peak of the student movement in 1987. Mayor Lee Seong-heon served as Yonsei University student council president in 1983, during the so-called Hakdo Hogukdan era.

Mayor Lee Seong-heon, born in 1958, is four years older than Representative Woo Sang-ho, who was born in 1962. For reference, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was born in 1964, two years younger than Representative Woo Sang-ho. This highlights Woo Sang-ho's long political career.

The 2000 general election was an unforgettable election for both politicians Woo Sang-ho and Lee Seong-heon. Mayor Lee Seong-heon ran as the Grand National Party candidate in Seoul Seodaemun-gu Gap district, while Representative Woo Sang-ho ran as the Millennium Democratic Party candidate in the same district.

It was an election where political veteran Lee Seong-heon, who had experience in party positions since the 1980s during the Unification Democratic Party era, was challenged by political newcomer Woo Sang-ho. The result was very close. Mayor Lee Seong-heon won with 47.0% of the vote, narrowly defeating Representative Woo Sang-ho, who received 45.2%.

On April 6, 2020, Lee Seongheon, the United Future Party candidate for Seodaemun-gu Gap, is appealing for support from residents in front of Yeongcheon Market in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

This was the first time Woo Sang-ho earned a gold badge as a politician.

After narrowly losing, Representative Woo Sang-ho vowed to try again in four years. They met again in the 2004 17th general election. The Uri Party rode a strong wave of opposition to President Roh Moo-hyun's impeachment. Woo Sang-ho, running as the Uri Party candidate in Seoul Seodaemun-gu Gap, faced a tough opponent.

Woo Sang-ho won with 46.1% of the vote. However, Mayor Lee Seong-heon also performed well, receiving 43.8%. Woo Sang-ho's narrow victory in the 17th general election marked his first time becoming a National Assembly member.

Four years later, Lee Seong-heon prepared a counterattack. The 2008 election was a difficult one for the then United Democratic Party in Seoul. Representative Woo Sang-ho ran as the United Democratic Party candidate in the 18th general election in Seodaemun-gu Gap but only received 43.5% of the vote.

Grand National Party candidate Lee Seong-heon won back the Seodaemun-gu Gap National Assembly seat with 51.6% of the vote.

So what happened in the 2012 19th general election? After four years of determined preparation, Representative Woo Sang-ho ran as the Democratic Party candidate and was elected with 54.4% of the vote. Mayor Lee Seong-heon, who received 45.6%, had to once again yield the Seodaemun National Assembly seat to his junior from Yonsei University.

The four elections between 2000 and 2012 between politicians Woo Sang-ho and Lee Seong-heon coincidentally resulted in alternating victories. The losing politician sharpened their resolve over the next four years, preparing for a new fierce battle and ultimately reclaiming the National Assembly seat.

However, the 2016 20th general election and the 2020 21st general election both ended in victories for Representative Woo Sang-ho. He comfortably won with 54.9% and 53.2% of the vote, respectively.

Woo Sang-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The last memory of victory in the Seodaemun-gu Gap National Assembly election for politician Lee Seong-heon was in 2008. Many years have passed since then, and he suffered three consecutive defeats to Representative Woo Sang-ho. However, a chance for a comeback has appeared.

Woo Sang-ho, who previously ran for Seoul mayor, has decided not to run in the 2024 22nd general election in Seodaemun-gu Gap. Woo Sang-ho is leaning toward not running in the general election. However, since politics is a living entity, it cannot be ruled out that he might play a role in next year's general election if called upon by his party.

Even if that happens, it is unlikely that he will run again in his own district, Seodaemun-gu Gap.

The fierce battle in Seodaemun-gu Gap that has continued since 2000 may come to an end in 2024.

So, could Mayor Lee Seong-heon become the main figure in this open field? The problem is that Mayor Lee Seong-heon was elected in the 2022 local elections and is currently serving as the incumbent mayor of Seodaemun-gu. If he wants to run in next year's general election, he would have to resign before completing even two years of his mayoral term, which poses a dilemma.

The general election rivalry between Woo Sang-ho and Lee Seong-heon, which has lasted over 20 years in Seodaemun since 2000, may conclude in 2024 with both stepping down. Regardless of the outcome, the Woo Sang-ho?Lee Seong-heon matchup, regarded as one of the greatest big matches among all-time general election rivals, is expected to be remembered in political history for a long time.