Lee Junbae Reappointed as People Power Party Sejong Chairman, to Lead Next Year's Local Elections

Attention on Political Strategies for the "Graveyard" New Town and the Traditional Stronghold in the Old City Center

In the most recent general and local elections, the Democratic Party of Korea, chosen by the citizens of Sejong, secured not only both National Assembly seats but also 13 out of the 20 seats in the Sejong City Council. Of the two parliamentary seats, one is held by Kang Junhyeon of the Democratic Party, while the other is held by Kim Jongmin, who left the Democratic Party. This means the so-called political power in Sejong is firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party and its affiliates.

Amid this political landscape dominated by the Democratic Party, the People Power Party, which has struggled to maintain its presence in Sejong, recently decided to reappoint Lee Junbae as chairman of its Sejong City branch. Lee previously served as Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs under Sejong Mayor Choi Minho. He ran in the 22nd general election last year in the Eul constituency but was defeated by Democratic Party incumbent Kang. Despite this, Lee has remained active and has continued to lead the party as an out-of-parliament chairman.

Lee Junbae, chairman of the Sejong City branch of the People Power Party, is confirmed to be reappointed as the next chairman, pending approval from the central party.

According to the People Power Party’s Sejong branch, candidate registration for the chairman position was held through an open call on July 10, and Lee was the sole applicant. As a result, the branch convened its third steering committee meeting on July 16, where Lee’s reappointment as chairman for 2025 was unanimously approved by the committee. His term will be for one year, pending final approval from the party’s Central Committee.

Observers note that Lee’s decision to seek reappointment, after having steadfastly led the party through difficult times, prompted other potential candidates to respect his leadership and refrain from registering for the race.

A political insider commented, “In a city dominated by the Democratic Party, Lee Junbae has resolutely maintained the party’s presence and has worked to unite the broader conservative base. Because everyone is aware of these efforts, potential candidates struggled with the decision and ultimately chose not to run against him.”

With only the central party’s approval remaining, Lee’s reappointment appears certain, and attention is now focused on what role he will play in leading next year’s local elections in Sejong.

Lee is also the founding president of Isamhwe, a gathering of right-wing politicians launched in July last year, and is regarded as a staunch conservative within political circles. This reputation stems from his efforts to showcase not just one aspect of conservatism, but its full spectrum. It remains to be seen whether he can reclaim seats in the new urban districts, often referred to as the “People Power Party’s graveyard,” and retain the traditional strongholds in the old city center.