[Anchor]
No surprises emerged in the October 16 by-elections. In the local government head elections, the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea each won two seats. By holding onto their respective strongholds, both People Power Party’s Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party’s leader Lee Jae-myung avoided a direct hit to their leadership. In the Seoul superintendent election, a progressive candidate won for the fourth consecutive time.
This is Lee Jae-seung reporting.
[Reporter]
In the Busan Geumjeong District by-election, which was considered a fierce battleground, People Power Party’s Yoon Il-hyun was elected with 61.03% of the vote.
[Yoon Il-hyun, Elected Geumjeong District Head (People Power Party): With your support, I will give my all to lead the development of Geumjeong.]
In the Jeonnam Yeonggwang County re-election, which featured a heated three-way race among the Democratic Party, the National Innovation Party, and the Progressive Party, the Democratic Party won, maintaining its representation among the opposition.
[Jang Se-il, Elected Yeonggwang County Head (Democratic Party): I will immediately act on your calls to ‘consider the livelihood of the people’ and ‘consider the local economy’ and set things right in Yeonggwang.]
In Incheon Ganghwa County, People Power Party’s Park Yong-chul was elected with a majority, while in Jeonnam Gokseong County, Democratic Party’s Jo Sang-rae won.
These by-elections were notable as the first major contest between the ruling and opposition parties since the leadership of Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jae-myung began.
Both parties secured two regions each, holding onto their respective bases.
Han Dong-hoon stated on social media, “I will lead the change and renewal of the government and ruling party according to the people’s will,” while Lee Jae-myung declared, “I will uphold the public sentiment to prevent a regression of governance.”
In the Seoul superintendent election, which is not affiliated with any party, progressive candidate Jeong Geun-sik was chosen.
[Jeong Geun-sik, Elected Seoul Superintendent: Your choice will transform Seoul’s education and represent the first step in advancing it to a higher level.]
This marks the fourth consecutive win for a progressive candidate in Seoul superintendent races. Most of the existing policies of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, including the innovation school initiative, are expected to remain in place. Jeong, as the elected superintendent, will lead Seoul’s education for the remaining term of 1 year and 8 months left by former superintendent Cho Hee-yeon.
[Video Coverage by Jang Jeong-won and Jo Seon-ok / Video Editing by Lee Hwa-young]