[22nd General Election] Gwangju Seo-gu Gap Jo In-cheol Elected: "I Will Be a Lawmaker Who Works, Not Just Talks"

Jo In-cheol, the Democratic Party candidate for Seo-gu (Gap), Gwangju Metropolitan City, has been confirmed to enter the 22nd National Assembly.

According to the National Election Commission on the 11th, as of 12:30 AM, Jo In-cheol was confirmed elected with 68.46% of the votes.

Jo In-cheol, the Democratic Party candidate for Seo-gu Gap, Gwangju Metropolitan City, is cheering with supporters as his election victory is confirmed.
[Photo by Jo In-cheol Election Office]

Although the area attracted attention when Song Young-gil founded the Pine Tree Party and ran from prison, Jo comfortably surpassed him.

Candidate Song received 17.68%, Ha Heon-sik of the People Power Party 8.64%, and Kang Seung-chul of the Progressive Party 5.2%, following behind.

Jo, born in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Gwangju Seoseok High School and Korea University with a major in Spanish Language and Literature. He earned a master's degree in economics from the same university's graduate school and a doctorate in policy studies from the University of Birmingham in the UK.

He passed the 40th Administrative Examination and served in various positions such as Director of Total Project Cost Management, Director of Cultural Budget, and Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Maritime Budget at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. He is regarded as a representative budget expert and served as the Vice Mayor for Culture and Economy of Gwangju Metropolitan City during the 7th local government, gaining experience in autonomous administration.

He was awarded the ‘Presidential Citation’ in 2004 and the ‘Proud 5·18 Gwangju Citizen Award’ in 2022.

Jo In-cheol said, “I promise to create a Republic of Korea where common sense lives. I promise to make Gwangju prosperous and Seo-gu a better place to live.” He added, “I will faithfully carry out my pledges and policies and become a National Assembly member who is not ashamed as a principled politician.”

He continued, “During the two years of the incompetent, irresponsible, and rude communication of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, people’s livelihoods have collapsed, democracy has broken down, and peace has faced a crisis. The victory in this election is a judgment on the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and reflects the desire of the citizens of Gwangju and residents of Seo-gu to ‘completely change things!’ I will faithfully carry out this will and do my best for regime change and the recovery of the people’s economy. I will be a National Assembly member who changes things through ‘work,’ not just ‘words.’”

He added, “I will always look only at our Gwangju and Seo-gu,” and “I will not lose my original intention, unite through communication, carefully observe local public opinion, and always be with you.”