4-term Na Kyung-won Defeated by Lee Su-jin "I Resented the Party for Matching Me Against Na Kyung-won"

Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Su-jin, who won the National Assembly election in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, sheds tears on the 16th at the election office in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, as her victory becomes certain. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] Lee Sujin, the Democratic Party candidate who defeated Na Kyung-won of the United Future Party, a four-term incumbent in Seoul Dongjak-eul constituency in the April 15 general election, revealed that she had resented the party leadership for pitting her against Na.

On the 16th, appearing on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Lee said about the nomination in Seoul Dongjak-eul, "(Regarding the constituency being a tough district) It would be a lie to say I had no resentment at all. If I had been very greedy for a National Assembly seat, I would have ultimately declined (Dongjak-eul)." She added, "It seemed almost impossible, and even to my eyes, I was a first-term candidate and I had heard a lot that it was a tough district."

She said, "They explained a lot about the party's urgency and the state of the National Assembly last year. So I decided to take on the responsibility at the end," adding, "Actually, the Democratic Party conducted a public opinion poll. I don't know much about it, but they told me that only if I ran could we win, so I believed that."

She continued, "In fact, the people in the constituency were very welcoming and thanked me for making the decision," and said, "Although the media denied it, every day there were defamatory articles related to judicial reform. I couldn't express it, but it made me uncomfortable."

Lee dismissed any significant connection between her recruitment by the Democratic Party and the 'judge blacklist' of former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae's judiciary.

She said, "The Democratic Party did not recruit me because of that; the prosecution first judged me as a victim, investigated, and leaked it to the media," adding, "I was recruited because I made various complex rulings and gave important testimony in a significant forced labor case, which the Democratic Party highly valued."

She added, "I have no intention of emphasizing the blacklist," and said, "Can I say that in front of many ordinary people? But it is true that judges suffered personnel disadvantages."

Meanwhile, Lee was elected by securing 52.1% of the vote in Dongjak-eul, surpassing Na, who received 45%.

On the 16th, at her election office in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, upon confirmation of her victory, Lee said, "I will devote all my dedication and passion to creating a better Dongjak and a country worthy of its name," and added, "My victory is not a personal win but a victory for the residents of Dongjak who want a new Dongjak."

She said, "I will change old-fashioned politics, innovate the National Assembly, and create a working parliament," and added, "All the residents of Dongjak who voted for me and those who did not are all residents of Dongjak. I would appreciate it if we could unite our strength and hearts to open the future of a new Dongjak."

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