Campus Couple of the Same Age: "She Looked Pretty" ? Jung Wono's First Impression of Spouse Moon Hyejeong [Current Affairs Show][Spouse Profiles] ①

Campus Couple Who Met at the University of Seoul
Worked as a Math Instructor at a Private Academy After Graduation
Agreed to "Take on a Meaningful Challenge"

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Monday to Friday, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Director: PD Ma Yena

Editor's NoteThe year of the 6·3 local elections has begun. Candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties are announcing their bids. There is growing interest not only in who the candidates are and what policies they are proposing, but also in who their spouses are. 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' is launching a new segment titled 'Spouse Profiles,' which introduces the spouses of candidates (or expected candidates). ①Moon Hyejeong (Spouse of District Mayor Jung Wono)

Jung Wono, the current mayor of Seongdong District and a likely candidate in the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral primary, was born in 1968. He is originally from Yeosu, Jeollanam-do. He attended elementary school in Yeosu until the fourth grade, then moved to Busan with his father, where he completed elementary school. He returned to Yeosu for middle and high school, graduating from Hwayang Middle School and Yeosu High School. In 1986, he entered the Department of Economics at the University of Seoul. Although he had another school in mind, his grades were not sufficient, so, after some deliberation, he followed a friend's suggestion to attend the University of Seoul.

He became involved in the student movement, serving as vice president of the student council and as the head of publicity for the National Council of University Student Representatives (Jeondaehyeop). He is part of the so-called '586 generation.' He completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Urban Development Management at Hanyang University. His experience as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Planning Committee is based on this background. He fulfilled his military service as a sergeant in the Army Transportation Command. He is a Protestant and an ordained deacon at Muhak Church.

He entered politics in 1995 by assisting in the Yangcheon District mayoral election, later serving as secretary and chief secretary to the Yangcheon District mayor. He also spent about four years as an aide to National Assembly member Lim Jongseok. He served as president of the National Assembly Aides Council for the Uri Party, head of the election campaign headquarters for Hong Ikpyo in Seongdong-eul, and as a planning committee member for the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. In 2014, he was elected mayor of Seongdong District and is currently serving his third consecutive term. He is the only three-term incumbent head of a basic local government in the Seoul metropolitan area. On December 8 of last year, President Lee Jaemyung praised him on social media, saying, "He seems to be doing better than me," which significantly boosted his public recognition.

Mayor Jung's spouse is Moon Hyejeong. They are the same age. The couple has one son and one daughter. They met as a campus couple at the University of Seoul and later married. Their first meeting was when Mayor Jung was a senior and Ms. Moon was a sophomore. After graduating from Seoul Women's Commercial High School, Ms. Moon worked for about two years before entering the University of Seoul. Mayor Jung recalled, "I first met my wife when I was vice president of the student council and was involved in various activities, including helping underclassmen. She was a sophomore in another department." When asked about his first impression, Mayor Jung said, "She was pretty." After graduating from the University of Seoul, Ms. Moon worked as a math instructor at a private academy.

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Currently, as Mayor Jung's public recognition and support are on the rise, he finds himself in a situation akin to riding a tiger. According to an official from the Seongdong District Office, Ms. Moon is not the type who enjoys appearing in public. Even when she attends events, it is not uncommon for her to quietly sit alone at the back. However, as attention toward Mayor Jung increases, there is a growing possibility that she will be called upon to take on a different role than before.