Sim Sang-jung's Defeat, Justice Party Wins Zero Seats 'Shock'..."Public Sentiment is Divine Will"

Sim Sang-jung's Failure to Secure 5th Term: Statement Released
"I Will Accept with a Humble Heart"

On the morning of the 4th, the day before the early voting day for the 22nd National Assembly election, Sim Sang-jung, the floor leader, is speaking at a special press conference of the Green Justice Party Central Election Committee held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the 22nd National Assembly election held on the 10th, Sim Sang-jung, the Green Justice Party candidate, was defeated, failing to secure a fifth term. The Green Justice Party is expected to win zero seats.

As of 12:37 AM on the 11th, the vote count rate in Goyang-si Gap, Gyeonggi Province, was 87.7%, with Kim Seong-hoe of the Democratic Party of Korea receiving 44.21% (59,601 votes), making his victory certain.

Han Chang-seop, the People Power Party candidate, recorded 36.28% (48,910 votes), and Sim received 18.55% (25,010 votes).

After it became clear that Sim had failed to secure a fifth term, she stated in a press release, "The will of the people is the will of heaven," adding, "I will accept today's result as the will of heaven and humbly respect the choice of the residents."

She continued, "Sim Sang-jung as the National Assembly member for Goyang-si Gap ends here, but I will never forget the warm support and love that the residents of Goyang-si Gap have given me over the past 12 years."

Sim explained, "The residents of Goyang-si Gap have shown that if a politician is principled, honest, and competent, they are always ready to support beyond party and ideology," adding, "They have elected a politician from a minority party three times, willingly accompanying the difficult third path. I am deeply grateful once again."

She added, "I am deeply sorry to the party members and supporters who have earnestly and wholeheartedly supported me," and said, "Today's result is entirely due to my shortcomings. I will consider the great affection and love you have given me as a lifelong debt and repay it."

Sim entered the National Assembly in 2004 as the number one proportional representative of the Democratic Labor Party and subsequently served as the district National Assembly member for Goyang-si Gap in the 19th, 20th, and 21st National Assemblies.

According to exit polls, the Green Justice Party is expected to win zero seats. The Justice Party had won six seats in the 21st National Assembly. Upon the announcement of the exit poll results, a somber atmosphere prevailed among party officials gathered in the National Assembly vote counting situation room.