[Politics, That Day...] 11 Independent Candidates Survived in the 20s General Election, Only 3 in the 19th: The Gap Between Dream and Reality of 'Independent Survival'

Independent Candidates Face Tough Road to Victory Despite Local Competitiveness... Which Independent Candidates Will Survive the 21st General Election?

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Politics, On That Day…’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, and figures.

On the 9th, an early voting station for the 21st National Assembly election is being set up at Seoul Station. Early voting will take place over two days, from the 10th to the 11th, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Those who must go through numerous trials and aerial battles to hope for ‘survival.’ This is a story about independent candidates running in the general election.

Independent candidates are broadly divided into two groups. One is candidates who have served as incumbent lawmakers or have regional competitiveness but did not receive party nominations and thus run as independents. The other is unknown independent candidates who run with the significance of participation.

Prominent politicians who choose to run as independents with hopes of winning experience harsh situations firsthand after leaving their parties. They face a situation akin to being surrounded by walls on all sides, despite declaring their candidacy believing they would ‘naturally’ win.

The survival rate of independents is not as high as expected. There have not been many who tasted the joy of winning as independents in past general elections. In the 2016 20th general election, 11 independents were elected. They were relatively more in the Yeongnam region: 3 in Daegu, 3 in Ulsan, 1 in Busan, 2 in Incheon, 1 in Sejong, and 1 in Gangwon.

Checking the names of independent winners might surprise you. It may seem strange that they did not receive party nominations. In fact, in the 20th general election, those elected as independents in Daegu were Representative Yoo Seung-min, Representative Joo Ho-young, and Representative Hong Ui-rak. Representatives Yoo and Joo are prominent politicians representing Daegu, but they did not receive nominations in the 20th general election and ran as independents before returning victorious.

On the 9th, an early voting station for the 21st National Assembly election is being set up at Seoul Station. Early voting will take place over two days, from the 10th to the 11th, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

In Ulsan, half of the six winners, three, were independents: Kim Jong-hoon in Dong-gu, Yoon Jong-oh in Buk-gu, and Kang Gil-bu in Ulju-gun. Kim Jong-hoon and Yoon Jong-oh gained votes based on progressive candidate unification, and Kang Gil-bu is a symbolic politician of Ulju-gun. This means they are figures with a high probability of winning even when running as independents.

Candidates with so-called ‘reliable backing’ boldly decide to run as independents, but defeating established parties and winning is not as easy as expected.

In fact, there is a region where no independent candidate has ever won from the 16th to the 20th general elections. That is Seoul, the heart of Korean politics. Since the 16th general election in 2000, all winners in Seoul have been candidates affiliated with political parties.

In the 20th general election, 11 independents managed to win, but the 19th general election was a tougher challenge. Only three independents were elected in Gwangju, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk. In the 19th general election, 241 independents ran nationwide, but only three won, a probability of just 1.24%.

The three independent winners were Park Joo-sun, who ran in Dong-gu, Gwangju; Kim Han-pyo, who ran in Geoje, Gyeongnam; and Yoo Sung-yeop, who ran in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk. Their commonality is that they leveraged their regional competitiveness to gain the upper hand against candidates from major parties.

For an independent candidate to win, not only must they have personal competitiveness, but also the political stronghold party candidate in the region must be weak, or multiple candidates must compete, splitting the vote, creating a ‘favorable structure.’

This means winning under the independent banner in a general election is that difficult.

On the 9th, a citizen near the Changsin 3-dong Community Service Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is looking at the notice for the installation of the early voting station for the 21st National Assembly election. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Then, what will be the result of the 21st general election? Will it be closer to the three winners of the 19th general election or the 11 winners of the 20th? Can more than 11 independent candidates be elected? The general consensus is that candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea and the United Future Party will win most of the 253 constituencies in the 21st general election.

Other parties such as the Minsheng Party and the Justice Party, as well as independent candidates, are expected to face tough battles. Nevertheless, competitive independent candidates in key regions are hoping for victory. In Seoul, Representative Kim Seong-sik, running in Gwanak-gap, stands out.

Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, running in Dong-gu·Michuhol-gu E, Incheon, is also a figure among independents with survival potential. In Gyeonggi, Minsheng Party candidate Kim Seong-je (former mayor of Uiwang), running in Uiwang·Gwacheon, and Moon Seok-gyun, son of National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, running in Uijeongbu-gap, are notable figures.

In Daegu, the results of former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo, running in Suseong E, and Representative Jeong Tae-ok, running in Buk-gu-gap, are matters of interest. In Gangwon Province, the election outcomes of Representative Kwon Seong-dong, running in Gangneung, and former Gangneung Mayor Choi Myeong-hee are attracting attention.

In Jeonbuk, Representative Kim Gwan-young, running in Gunsan, is an independent candidate of interest. In Jeonnam, the election result of former Suncheon Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu, running in Suncheon·Gwangyang·Gokseong·Gurye-gap, is being watched.

In Gyeongbuk, the results of former Representatives Jeong Jong-bok and Kim Il-yoon, running in Gyeongju, are drawing attention. Former Representatives Kwon O-eul and Kwon Taek-gi in Andong·Yecheon, Jang Yun-seok in Yeongju·Yeongyang·Bonghwa·Uljin, and Lee Han-seong in Sangju·Mungyeong are also notable independent candidates.

In Gyeongnam, former Governor Kim Tae-ho of Gyeongnam, running in Sancheong·Hamyang·Geochang·Hapcheon, is the focus among independent candidates.

How many of these will taste the joy of victory? Will there be any unexpected independent winners? Will anyone break through the independent barrier in Seoul? The scale of independent candidates’ victories and their future political choices are among the points of interest in the 21st National Assembly.

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