Jeong Geun-sik "I Will Create Proud Seoul Education"
'Inheritance of Innovative Education' Progressive Candidate Victory
Final Progressive Camp Unification Influenced at the Last Moment
Former History Researcher, Also Active in Government Agencies
In the by-election held on the 16th, progressive candidate Jeong Geun-sik is expected to be elected as the new Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent. This marks the emergence of another progressive superintendent following former Seoul Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who held the position for the past decade.
As of 12:14 AM during the vote count that began at 8 PM that day, candidate Jeong was leading with 50.44% (828,898 votes), ahead of conservative candidate Cho Jeon-hyeok with 45.80%, a margin of 4.64 percentage points. Candidate Yoon Ho-sang was recorded at 3.75%. At this time, 85.59% of the votes had been counted.
Although a fierce competition between the two candidates was initially expected, Jeong secured a winning position within less than three hours of the vote count by widening the gap to more than 10 percentage points over Cho.
Upon confirmation of his victory, Jeong released a statement saying, "The unification during this election process was more important and dramatic than ever," adding, "It was the decision of those who quietly devoted themselves while protecting each educational site that made today's victory possible."
He also emphasized, "The recent Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to author Han Kang holds great significance for us," and stated, "Education that fosters a fierce historical consciousness and cultural and artistic sensitivity, like his works, is the key to brightening Seoul's future."
Jeong said, "Since this is a by-election, I will enter the Education Office immediately after organizing the surroundings and start Seoul education together with the citizens," and added, "I will listen to your voices and create a proud Seoul education."
Running as the unified candidate of the progressive camp, Jeong pledged to inherit key policies of former Superintendent Cho, such as innovative schools and the Student Human Rights Ordinance. He also announced plans to establish a ‘Learning Diagnosis and Healing Center (tentative name)’ to diagnose and address issues such as students’ learning difficulties and borderline intelligence.
Voters favored the progressive candidate who promised to continue the previous superintendent’s system over the conservative candidate who campaigned for the ‘normalization of Seoul education.’ Former Superintendent Cho, who succeeded in three consecutive terms, had maintained the progressive superintendent position for the past decade. Additionally, the last-minute unification with candidate Choi Bo-seon, who had declared an independent run, appears to have influenced the winning momentum. Conservative candidate Cho also proposed unification with candidate Yoon in the final stages of the election, but Yoon rejected the offer.
Candidate Jeong was born in 1957 in Iksan, Jeonbuk, and graduated with a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in sociology from Seoul National University. He began his academic career in 1985 at Chonnam National University and served as a sociology professor at both Chonnam National University and Seoul National University. As a historian, he participated in various research activities and government agencies. Notably, he served as chairman of the Gwangju Human Rights Charter Drafting Committee, contributing to the creation of the Gwangju Human Rights Charter, and under the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a ministerial-level position.
If confirmed as the new Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent, he is scheduled to start work at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the following day, the 17th.
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