Jung Chungrae, Kang Hoonshik, and Cho Sangho: Konkuk University Alumni
A Shared Background as Politicians from the Chungcheong Region
On August 2, National Assembly member Jung Chungrae, a four-term lawmaker, was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. At the same time, Cho Sangho, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Sejong City from the same party, is drawing attention. There are expectations that he will demonstrate significant political influence in the local community in the future. He is also emerging as a central figure likely to run as a candidate for Sejong Mayor in next year's local elections.
Meanwhile, it has become known that former Deputy Mayor Cho and the newly elected party leader Jung are both alumni of Konkuk University. Among current senior politicians from the Democratic Party who are active in central politics and graduated from Konkuk University, there is the new party leader Jung Chungrae and Kang Hoonshik, a three-term lawmaker who is currently serving as Chief Presidential Secretary.
Both the new party leader and the Chief Presidential Secretary are alumni of the same university as former Deputy Mayor Cho.
In particular, both leader Jung and Chief Secretary Kang are from the Chungcheong region. The reason former Deputy Mayor Cho is attracting attention is not only because he is an alumnus of the same university, but also because he is active in Sejong City, which is part of the Chungcheong region. If Cho runs for Sejong Mayor in next year's local elections, it is expected that he will wield considerable influence with this strong political background.
In addition, although they entered university in different years, it is known that Chief Secretary Kang and former Deputy Mayor Cho attended university at the same time. Cho, born in 1970, and Kang, born in 1973, have a three-year age difference. During their undergraduate years, Kang served as the president of the student council.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Mayor Cho previously served as the Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs in the administrative executive branch under former Sejong Mayor Lee Chunhee. He is currently participating as a member of the Political Administration Subcommittee in the National Policy Planning Committee, which functions as the presidential transition committee, and in the past, he also served as Chief Secretary for Political Coordination to the party leader.
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