Green Party Candidate Sim Sang-jung Faces Defeat in Goyang Gap
Green Party Becomes 'Non-Parliamentary Party' for First Time in 12 Years
Green Party Drops from 6 Seats in 2020 to 0 Seats in 2024
Sim Sang-jung, a member of the Green Justice Party and the first progressive party candidate to challenge for a fifth term, received a disappointing 18.5% of the vote in the 22nd general election held on the 10th, finishing in third place. Immediately after the results were announced, candidate Sim acknowledged her defeat and expressed gratitude to her supporters.
According to the Central Election Commission on the 11th, the Green Justice Party failed to secure any constituency seats in the National Assembly. This is a stark contrast to the 2020 21st general election, where the party won one constituency seat and five proportional representation seats, totaling six seats. As a result, the Justice Party has become an 'extra-parliamentary party' for the first time in 12 years since its founding.
The only constituency that the Green Justice Party had maintained, Goyang Gap in Gyeonggi Province, did not support Sim Sang-jung, who was seeking a fifth term. Once affectionately called 'Simblee' and even registered as a presidential candidate, Sim lost Goyang Gap to Kim Seong-hoe of the Democratic Party. Incumbent proportional representation members Jang Hye-young and Kang Eun-mi were also defeated in Seoul Mapo-eul and Gwangju Seo-eul, respectively. The party failed to surpass the 3% threshold in proportional representation, ending with zero seats.
After it became clear that her bid for a fifth term had failed, candidate Sim stated in a press release, "It is said that the will of the people is the will of heaven." She added, "I will accept today's results as the will of heaven and humbly respect the choice of the residents." She continued, "Sim Sang-jung as a National Assembly member for Goyang Gap ends here, but I will never forget the warm support and love that the residents of Goyang Gap have given me over the past 12 years." She said, "The residents of Goyang Gap have shown that they are always ready to support principled, honest, and competent politicians beyond party and ideology. They have willingly accompanied the difficult third way by electing a politician from a minor party three times. I thank you deeply once again."
Sim also congratulated Democratic Party candidate Kim Seong-hoe and asked him to carry on the work she has pursued for balanced development in Goyang City over the past 12 years. She expressed deep regret to party members and supporters who had earnestly supported her, saying, "I am deeply sorry to all party members and supporters who have passionately cheered me on. 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."
Green Justice Party Closes Election Situation Room After Exit Poll Announcement
Members of the Green Party watching the exit poll results with serious expressions in the National Assembly vote counting room on the 10th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 10th, the day before the election, the Green Justice Party closed its election situation room after the three major broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) announced exit polls predicting that the party would not win a single seat.
Kim Jun-woo, the standing co-chair of the election committee, who had remained silent while watching the exit poll results, stood up around 6:30 p.m. and said, "We solemnly and humbly accept that the Green Justice Party was not recognized by voters as a key force for regime judgment." He added, "It is an undeniable fact that we received a relatively poor result compared to the 21st general election. We will thoroughly reflect and reconsider our legislative activities over the past four years and will definitely find a way to pioneer progressive politics going forward."
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