'Considering Candidacy' Gominjeong, Blue House Spokesperson, Where Will She Go?

'General Election Resources' The Only Blue House Aide with Uncertain Position
Democratic Party Conducts Polls on Kim Go-jeong's Recognition in Seocho Gap and Uijeongbu Eul
Na Kyung-won Mentioned as a Contender in Dongjak Eul

Gominjeong, Blue House spokesperson, is entering the Chunuchu-gwan briefing room on the afternoon of the 6th to announce the reorganization and functional restructuring of the Blue House.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Jin-young] "I believe the time will come when I can speak about it. I am currently deliberating."

On the 8th, Go Min-jung, the Blue House spokesperson, said this in response to a question about whether she would run in the general election during KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs.'

Even after the interview, Spokesperson Go has not given a clear answer regarding her future plans.

In a phone call with Asia Economy on the 10th, when asked about her candidacy, Go said, "I will speak when the time comes," withholding further comment.

Except for Spokesperson Go, the statuses of Blue House aides who were considered potential candidates for the general election have all been settled.

Yoon Gun-young, former head of the National Policy Planning Situation Room and a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, left the Blue House to run in next year's general election, while Kang Ki-jung, the senior secretary for political affairs who was also mentioned as a possible candidate, decided to remain at the Blue House.

Will Spokesperson Go stay at the Blue House or jump into the general election?

If she runs, which district will she choose?

Because of her symbolic role as the "President's voice," Spokesperson Go's decision has become a matter of intense interest.

◆ Will she run?

The prevailing view is that she will run.

The reason for the high possibility of her candidacy is her competitiveness.

Above all, her recognition is so high that almost no one is unfamiliar with her.

It is also an advantage that she can respond to the demand for generational change in politics, which is emerging mainly among the younger generation.

Spokesperson Go was born in 1979 and is 41 years old this year.

Even when expanding the scope to the entire political sphere, it is not easy to find someone around 40 years old with the level of recognition and fresh image that Spokesperson Go has.

A Democratic Party official said, "In the Korean political environment dominated by men over 50, she is a rare working mom in her early 40s raising two children," adding, "From the Democratic Party's perspective, Spokesperson Go is a resource with the highest vote-getting power."

However, if the Democratic Party demands that Spokesperson Go run in a difficult district rather than a safe one, or if President Moon, who highly values her work performance, discourages her from running, she may stay.

A Blue House official analyzed, "Since President Moon let go of former Director Yoon as well, if Spokesperson Go wants to run, she will not be held back," adding, "The reason she has not yet made a decision may be because the party's thoughts on the electoral district differ from hers."

The official predicted, "Since Spokesperson Go is not a politician by background and does not have a strong will to run, if she is asked to go to a very difficult place, there is no reason for her to leave the Blue House and run."

If Spokesperson Go makes a final decision to run, the "time when she can speak" about her future is expected to be the day after the President's New Year's press conference on the 15th.

This is the sequence of announcing her future after concluding the President's New Year's press conference, the biggest event among Blue House early-year events.

Spokesperson Go is expected to host the New Year's press conference.

By highlighting "Blue House Spokesperson Go Min-jung" through the live TV broadcast of the New Year's press conference and then announcing her candidacy the next day, a secondary effect of maximizing the message can also be expected.

The 15th is also the day before the resignation deadline for public officials running in the general election.

◆ Dongjak-eul? Seocho-gap? Uijeongbu-eul? Goyang? Bundang?

As she is evaluated as a resource with general election competitiveness, her name is being mentioned in various districts.

Seoul Dongjak-eul, where Na Kyung-won of the Liberty Korea Party is entrenched, is being considered.

In a KBS radio interview, when asked, "There is talk that you are a rival to Na Kyung-won of the Liberty Korea Party," Spokesperson Go replied, "I am also seeing it through reports."

Min Kyung-wook, a former KBS reporter and former Blue House spokesperson who is now a member of the Korean Party, posted on his Facebook on the 8th, "Go Min-jung as Na Kyung-won's rival? Is it okay to insult Na Kyung-won this severely?" throwing a 'check' at her.

The Seoul Dongjak-eul district has never been won by the Democratic Party since the 18th general election.

Na ran in the July 2014 by-election in Dongjak-eul and won with 38,311 votes (49.90%), defeating Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party, who received 37,382 votes (48.69%).

In the 20th general election, Na secured 44,457 votes (43.40%), beating Democratic Party candidate Heo Dong-jun, who got 32,212 votes (31.45%), successfully defending her seat.

The Democratic Party is deliberating to find a rival for Na.

They have considered deploying Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and recently have also put forward former Suwon District Court Chief Judge Lee Soo-jin as a candidate alongside Spokesperson Go.

Recently, reports emerged that the Democratic Party conducted recognition polls on Spokesperson Go in Seocho-gap and Gyeonggi Uijeongbu-eul.

Seocho-gap and Uijeongbu-eul are the constituencies of Lee Hye-hoon of the New Conservative Party and Hong Moon-jong, leader of the Our Republican Party, respectively.

Both districts are weak areas for the Democratic Party, and there is already talk within the party about the possibility of strategic nominations.

There is also talk that she might go to Goyang, which has become a vacant territory due to the withdrawal of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi (Gyeonggi Goyang-jeong) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye (Gyeonggi Goyang-byeong).

The Democratic Party is reportedly considering strategic nominations for both Goyang-jeong and Goyang-byeong.

However, since Minister Kim announced the 3rd New Town Plan in September last year, local opinion in Goyang has rapidly deteriorated to the point where a "Kim Hyun-mi judgment theory" has emerged.

Given the unfavorable local opinion in Goyang, if Spokesperson Go, who graduated from middle and high school in Bundang, runs in Ilsan, it is analyzed that it will be a tough fight.

A Democratic Party official said, "Among Ilsan New Town residents, many have a subtle rivalry and relative deprivation toward Bundang, which is also a 1st New Town," adding, "Even though both are 1st New Towns, apartment prices differ from Bundang, causing a sense of deprivation, so if a candidate from Bundang runs in Ilsan, it could pour fuel on already unfavorable local opinion due to the 3rd New Town issue."

With Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae entering the cabinet, Seoul Gwangjin-eul, which has become vacant, and Bundang, where Spokesperson Go spent her school years, are also being mentioned as possible candidacy districts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.