Kim Jaeseop Recaptures Conservative Stronghold Dobong Gap
Political Rookie Jo Jiyeon Defeats Four-Term Veteran
From an 81-year-old veteran to elected officials born in the 1990s... The 22nd National Assembly has produced headline-making winners. Here are five unique elected officials.
▲ Park Ji-won, the oldest elected official at 81, secures his 5th term
Park Ji-won, elected from the Democratic Party representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo counties in Jeollanam-do, was born in 1942 and is 81 years old. He is the oldest candidate among the parliamentary party candidates in this general election. Early in the vote count, he secured his victory with an overwhelming margin and ultimately achieved a nationwide highest vote share of 92.35%. In his victory speech on the 10th, Park said, “As a senior politician, I will devote my experience and wisdom to restoring the politics of dialogue so that the 22nd National Assembly can engage in productive politics for the people.”
▲ Jeon Yong-gi, the first-ever 1990s-born district lawmaker
Jeon Yong-gi of the Democratic Party, elected from Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, set the record as the youngest district lawmaker. Born in October 1991, Jeon started as a proportional representative at age 28 and was elected from a district at age 32. With Jeon’s election, the 22nd National Assembly is expected to have its first-ever 1990s-born district lawmaker. Previously, 1990s-born lawmakers were only proportional representatives such as Jeon Yong-gi (Democratic Party, 21st Assembly), Ryu Ho-jeong (Justice Party), and Yong Hye-in (Basic Income Party). Meanwhile, Kim Yong-tae (born 1990), elected from Pocheon City and Gapyeong County in Gyeonggi Province for the People Power Party, also set the record as the first 1990s-born district candidate.
▲ Kim Jae-seop reclaims Dobong-gu Gap, a conservative stronghold
Kim Jae-seop of the People Power Party, elected from Dobong-gu Gap in Seoul, is the first conservative party winner in 16 years. This is the first reclaim since former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho of the Grand National Party in 2008. He is also the only winner from the ruling party’s tough districts of Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, and Gangbuk-gu. He won with 49.05% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party candidate Ahn Gwi-ryeong, who received 47.89%, by a margin of 1,094 votes. He overturned exit poll results to achieve a dramatic comeback.
▲ Political newcomer Jo Ji-yeon defeats four-term incumbent in Gyeongsan
Jo Ji-yeon of the People Power Party, a political newcomer in her 30s, defeated a four-term veteran in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province. Before the election, polls showed Jo trailing candidate Choi Kyung-hwan by more than 10 percentage points, and there was analysis that it would be difficult to defeat Choi, an original pro-Park figure. However, the People Power Party’s firm stance against Choi’s return to the party as an independent is believed to have influenced the election outcome.
▲ Yoon Jong-oh of the Progressive Party wins district through unification
Yoon Jong-oh of the Progressive Party, elected from Buk-gu, Ulsan, won with 55.12% of the vote, beating People Power Party candidate Park Dae-dong, who received 42.88%, by 14,033 votes. He defeated incumbent lawmaker Lee Sang-heon of Buk-gu, Ulsan, during the opposition candidate unification process on the 24th of last month. However, there are concerns that the Progressive Party’s activities in the 22nd National Assembly may face challenges due to its predecessor, the Unified Progressive Party’s dissolution history.
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