Inherited Politician DNA...? 'Golden Spoon' Candidates in General Election Politics [Power of Genes]

②Massive Challenge from Politicians' Families
Examining the Profiles of Nominees
Descendants of Kim Gu and Former President's Son-in-Law
Managing Constituencies with Over Five Terms

In the upcoming April 10 general election, many famous politicians' family members have thrown their hats into the ring. From the great-grandson of Baekbeom Kim Gu to the grandson and son-in-law of former presidents, as well as second-generation politicians succeeding veteran lawmakers with more than five terms, the political world’s attention is focused on these 'gold spoon' trajectories in politics.

According to political circles on the 23rd, Kim Yong-man, great-grandson of Baekbeom Kim Gu and director of the Korea Provisional Government Commemoration Association, was selected as the 8th talent recruit by the Democratic Party of Korea and was strategically nominated as the Democratic Party candidate for Hanam, Gyeonggi Province on the 1st of this month. Subsequently, on the 8th, he was appointed party spokesperson and vice-chairman of the Policy Committee, and on the 11th, he was included in the election committee formed by the central party and appointed as co-chairman of the election committee.

Candidate Kim has led the Seoul 3.1 Movement commemoration projects since 2015 and currently serves as a director of the Korea Provisional Government Commemoration Association. He participated in the restoration project of Hyochangwon, where independence activists are buried, and the establishment of the Seoul Comfort Women Peace Monument. In the last presidential election, he served as co-chairman of the Democratic Party’s History and Justice Special Committee and contributed to the development of related pledges.

Attorney Kwak Sang-eon, son-in-law of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, was nominated as the sole Democratic Party candidate for Jongno District, Seoul, known as the 'political first district,' in this general election.

Kwak, who passed the 43rd Judicial Examination in 2001, married Roh Jung-yeon, daughter of former President Roh, during his judicial training in 2003. After working continuously as a lawyer, he declared his entry into politics in 2019 and ran as the Democratic Party candidate for Okcheon-Boeun, Chungbuk, in the 21st general election but was defeated by Park Deok-heum of the United Future Party. He then served as deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, a think tank of the Democratic Party, until 2022 and was chairman of the Democratic Party’s Jongno District branch.

Kim Young-ho, the Democratic Party candidate who declared his candidacy in Seodaemun District, Seoul, is the second son of Kim Sang-hyun, a six-term former Democratic Party lawmaker and a close aide of 'DJ' Kim Dae-jung. A former journalist, Kim Young-ho has represented Seodaemun District since the 20th National Assembly and is now seeking a third term in this election. His father, former lawmaker Kim Sang-hyun, is known as a member of the Donggyodong faction but is especially recognized for his extensive cross-factional network.

Jeong Jin-seok, a six-term lawmaker of the People Power Party running in Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang, Chungnam, is the second son of the late Jeong Seok-mo, former Minister of the Interior during President Park Chung-hee’s era.

Jeon Ju-hye, the People Power Party floor spokesperson running in Gangdong-gap, Seoul, is the daughter of former lawmaker and head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Jeon Seok-hong. Formerly a judge at the Seoul Central District Court, Jeon was elected as a proportional representative for the Future Korea Party in the 21st general election in 2020, ranked 15th on the list. Her father, Jeon Seok-hong, currently serves as a standing advisor at the Yeouido Institute.

In this general election, Kim Su-min, daughter of former lawmaker Kim Hyun-bae and former People Power Party Cheongwon District Committee chairperson, is challenging for a constituency seat in Cheongju-Cheongwon, Chungbuk, defeating Seo Seung-woo, the Chungbuk vice governor. Kim Hyun-bae entered the 20th National Assembly in 2016 as the 7th proportional representative recruit of the People's Party. At that time, she and her father, Kim Hyun-bae, earned the title of the first father-daughter lawmakers in the National Assembly.