Progressives, Former Education Superintendents Jo Hee-yeon and Kwak No-hyun Join
Conservatives Appoint Former Seoul Deputy Mayor as Chief Election Committee Chair
Labor, Religious Groups, Parents, and Local Organizations Also Involved
Official Campaign for Education Superintendent By-election Starts from the 3rd
As the official campaign period for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent by-election begins on the 3rd, conservative and progressive camps have started competing to gather support. Candidates Jeong Geun-sik and Jo Jeon-hyeok are rallying their support bases by encompassing former education superintendents, political figures, religious groups, and labor unions.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, progressive candidate Jeong Geun-sik held a ‘Victory Prayer Support Day Event’ at his campaign office located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to announce the launch of the unified election committee and pray for election victory. Attendees included Kang Shin-man, former vice chairman of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union who participated in the progressive education superintendent primary, Ahn Seung-moon, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education commissioner, Hong Je-nam, former principal of Oryu Middle School, as well as former education superintendents Cho Hee-yeon and Gwak No-hyeon. Former progressive education superintendents Kim Sang-gon, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and Lee Jae-jung, former Minister of Unification, also attended to support candidate Jeong.
Jeong and Jo, who unified through the primary election, are fervently gathering support in a short period of less than a month. Candidate Jeong appears to be leveraging former education superintendents, including former superintendent Jo who led the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education for the past decade. The day before, former superintendent Jo visited Jeong’s campaign office to provide direct support. Jeong has emphasized cooperation with all primary candidates who unified in various interviews and events. Professor Jo Gi-sook of Ewha Womans University, who had recently announced an independent candidacy, also joined the endorsement.
Candidate Jeong is also focusing on capturing the labor vote. On the 30th of last month, he received a declaration of support from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and held a policy agreement ceremony. Additionally, he held meetings with the Public Officials Labor Union and the Federation of Teachers’ Unions.
On the 1st, Jo Jeon-hyeok, candidate for Seoul Superintendent of Education, held the opening ceremony of the 'Jo Jeon-hyeok Change Camp' at the election office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Jo Jeon-hyeok Election Camp]
Jeong Geun-sik, candidate for Seoul Superintendent of Education, is talking with Cho Hee-yeon, former Seoul Superintendent of Education, who visited the election office in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 1st. [Photo by Jeong Geun-sik Election Camp]
Conservative candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok recently appointed Song Ju-beom, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul and a close aide to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, as the head of the general election headquarters. At the opening ceremony of the campaign office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st, former People Power Party Secretary-General Jeong Yang-seok, Kim Chun-gyu, chairman of the Barun Education Citizens’ Union, former Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations president Ahn Yang-ok, Korea University education professor Hong Hu-jo, and Sungkyul University professor Kim Young-bae attended as co-chairs of the election committee. Additionally, conservative figures such as former Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee In-je, former Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu, and former Sogang University president Son Byung-du joined the advisory group.
In particular, candidate Jo has been focusing on courting religious votes, having toured church services on the 29th of last month and held a meeting with Jang Jong-hyun, president of the Korea Christian Federation, on the 30th. On the 28th, he also attended the Jogye Order International Seon Meditation Conference held in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul, appealing for support.
On the 30th of last month, he received endorsements from right-wing civic groups such as the Barun Society Citizens’ Meeting, the Seoul Middle and High School Soccer Coaches Association, and parents. He is also focusing on capturing local votes by meeting with youth and parents in Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu.
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