Kim Tae-woo Aiming for By-election, Jeong Chan-min Loses Assembly Seat... Ruling Party's 'Mixed Fortunes'

Another Lawmaker Lost in Yongin-si Gap - By-election Approaching in Gangseo-gu
Kim Tae-woo, Who Hinted at Running in Gangseo-gu, Will He Be Renominated?

The restoration and loss of eligibility to run for office have caused mixed feelings among People Power Party figures. Former Yongin Mayor and People Power Party member Jeong Chan-min lost his parliamentary seat after being sentenced to prison on the 18th, leaving his constituency, Yongin City Gap in Gyeonggi Province, vacant until next year's general election. Meanwhile, former Gangseo District Mayor Kim Tae-woo, who recently regained his eligibility through a special pardon, is aiming to run in the Seoul Gangseo District mayoral by-election scheduled for October 11.

On the same day, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Oh Kyung-mi) upheld the original ruling sentencing former Mayor Jeong to seven years in prison, a fine of 500 million won, and partial confiscation of real estate for bribery charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Jeong, who had insisted on retaining his parliamentary seat even after being detained in September last year, lost his seat due to this ruling. According to the National Assembly Act and the Public Official Election Act, a member of the National Assembly who is sentenced to imprisonment or higher (including suspended sentences) loses their eligibility to run for office and thus their parliamentary seat.

Jeong Chan-min, former mayor of Yongin.

Accordingly, Yongin City Gap, Jeong’s constituency, will remain vacant until next year’s general election. According to the Public Official Election Act, by-elections for National Assembly members are held on the first Wednesday of April, so the successor will be elected in the 22nd general election on April 10 next year.

Yongin City Gap is not new to the absence of a constituency National Assembly member. The previous member, Lee Woo-hyun of the Saenuri Party, also lost his seat after being sentenced to seven years in prison in May 2019 for illegal political funds and bribery. However, since less than one year remained in his term, the by-election was postponed to the 21st general election the following year, and the seat remained vacant until the election held on April 15, 2020, when then Future United Party candidate Jeong Chan-min was elected.

However, with former Mayor Jeong also sentenced to prison and losing his seat on this day, Yongin City Gap is once again experiencing the absence of a National Assembly member.

Former Gangseo District Mayor Kim Tae-woo. / Suwon - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the other hand, there is a figure aiming for re-election after regaining eligibility. Former Gangseo District Mayor Kim Tae-woo, who was indicted for leaking official secrets and lost his mayoral position after the Supreme Court confirmed his prison sentence in May, was recently reinstated through a special pardon on Liberation Day.

Thanks to the special pardon, former Mayor Kim is now eligible to run in the Seoul Gangseo District mayoral by-election on October 11. The ruling party views the decision to include Kim in the pardon as appropriate, considering he was a whistleblower who exposed corruption in the previous administration.

However, it remains uncertain what decision the People Power Party will make regarding the Gangseo District nomination, as they face a dilemma. Although Kim’s pardon and reinstatement are interpreted as a signal from the presidential office for re-nomination, it is difficult to easily re-nominate him. Public opinion is unfavorable toward pardoning Kim just three months after his conviction was confirmed. This by-election is particularly important as it will be held six months before next year’s general election, providing insight into voter sentiment in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Kim has already expressed his intention to run in the Gangseo District by-election. In a statement on the 14th, he said, "I was the first to expose the corruption of the Moon Jae-in administration, and after four years and eight months, I have finally fully restored my honor. If the party and the people allow me, I want to spend the remaining time meaningfully again in Gangseo District."