[21st General Election] The Bitter Defeat of Park Ji-won, Seo Cheong-won, and Chung Dong-young... The Return of Jung Chung-rae, Lee Kwang-jae, and Kim Min-seok

Park Ji-won, member of the Minsaeng Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] In the aftermath of the April 15 general election, a significant number of 'old boy' politicians faced defeat. These heavyweights, who have left a deep mark on Korean political history, now face the prospect of leaving Yeouido and returning to private life. On the other hand, the ruling party has seen several prominent figures return through election victories, creating a contrasting atmosphere.

First, the poor performance of the Minsheng Party, which was heavily populated by Honam faction heavyweights, stands out. Park Ji-won, a four-term Minsheng Party lawmaker who ran in Mokpo, Jeonnam, was defeated by Lee Won-i, a newcomer from the Democratic Party. Park, who entered the National Assembly in the 14th general election in 1992, later emerged as a key figure in the Kim Dae-jung administration and was known as a 'political master.'

Minsheng Party lawmakers Jeong Dong-young (five terms) and Cheon Jeong-bae (six terms) also bowed out to Democratic Party winners in Jeonbuk Jeonju-byeong and Gwangju Seo-eul, respectively. Despite boasting illustrious political careers and establishing themselves as 'regional lords,' they ultimately failed to overcome the wall of public sentiment.

Son Hak-gyu, a four-term lawmaker and chairman of the Minsheng Party, led the election campaign while simultaneously running as number 14 on the proportional representation list in an all-out effort. However, the party recorded 'zero seats' both in local and proportional representation, placing it at a crossroads regarding its survival.

Seo Cheong-won, ranked second on the proportional representation list of the Our Republican Party and an eight-term lawmaker who challenged for a record ninth term, is also expected to end his long political career. Seo, elected at the age of 38 in the 11th general election in 1981, reached the milestone of eight terms after various trials but failed to match the record nine terms held by former President Kim Young-sam, former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, and former National Assembly Speaker Park Jun-gyu.

Jeong Cheong-rae Elected Representative. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, some figures made a spectacular return to Yeouido through this general election. Jeong Cheong-rae, a prominent member of the 86 group within the party known for his distinctive rhetoric, comfortably won in Mapo-eul, Seoul, marking his return to the National Assembly. Despite suffering the pain of being cut off from party nomination in the 20th general election, this victory elevated him to the ranks of a three-term veteran.

Lee Kwang-jae of the Fishermen's Party, who won in Wonju-gap, Gangwon, revived his 'incumbent' status after 10 years. Known as 'Left Kwang-jae' of former President Roh Moo-hyun and a core pro-Roh figure, he endured a difficult period during which his eligibility to run for office was restricted for 10 years due to charges of violating political funding laws while serving as governor of Gangwon Province in 2011.

Kim Min-seok, elected in Yeongdeungpo-eul, Seoul, has a more dramatic story. Kim returned to the National Assembly after about 20 years since the 15th general election. He has been regarded as a representative of the 386 generation but spent a long time as a private citizen following controversy over switching camps during the 2002 presidential election. His victory in a constituency located in the political heart of South Korea, where the National Assembly is situated, is seen as a brilliant comeback.

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