Lee Jae-myung Defeats Won Hee-ryong to Secure Victory... "Judgment on the Yoon Administration"

Lee Jae-myung "Doing Our Best to Stop National Regression"
Won Hee-ryong "Humbly Accepts" Defeat Acknowledged

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who ran for the 22nd National Assembly election in Gyeyang-gu B, Incheon, is watching the vote counting broadcast at his campaign office set up in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, on the 11th, together with his wife Kim Hye-kyung. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the 22nd general election, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is confirmed to have won in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul constituency. Won Hee-ryong, the candidate from the People Power Party, conceded defeat.

As of 1 a.m. on the 11th, with 84.76% of the votes counted in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, candidate Lee Jae-myung secured 53.67% (40,684 votes), surpassing candidate Won who received 45.90% (34,796 votes), making Lee's victory certain.

At his local office on the day, Lee expressed his gratitude in his victory speech, saying, "Although as party leader I could not fully concentrate 100% on the local election, I deeply appreciate many people encouraging me to support nationwide campaigns."

He emphasized, "The choice of our local voters regarding me is also a judgment on the Yoon Seok-youl administration," adding, "I believe this imposes a responsibility on the Democratic Party and me to take charge of people’s livelihoods, to create a better world, and to achieve regional development."

He continued, "As per the demands of the voters, I will do my best for the development of Gyeyang so much so that people might say they want to move to Gyeyang, and to stop the regression of national governance and move forward toward the future."

Candidate Won acknowledged his defeat through Facebook, stating, "I will humbly accept the will of the residents of Gyeyang."

The Gyeyang-eul district is where Song Young-gil, leader of the Sonamu Party, served five terms. When Song resigned to run for Seoul mayor, a by-election was held in June 2022, in which Lee Jae-myung ran and won just over two months after losing the last presidential election.