Who Is the Person Cultivating the Democratic Party's Stronghold After Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon's Landslide Victory?

Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu, Creates Political Base for the Democratic Party through Major Projects Including the Opening of Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum, Cheongun Literature Library, Park No-su Art Museum, Samcheong Forest Library, and the Gwanghwamun-Jonggak Underground Passage

Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno District

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The historic 21st National Assembly election ended in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of Korea with 180 seats.

In particular, Seoul's Jongno District, known as the political hotspot, saw former Prime Minister and top presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon, win with 54,902 votes (58.38%), defeating his opponent Hwang Kyo-ahn by about 17,300 votes (39.97%) with an 18% margin, solidifying his status as a presidential candidate.

Jongno is a region that has produced presidents such as former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak, making it undoubtedly a politically significant area.

Since when did this political hotspot, Jongno, become a major political base for the Democratic Party of Korea?

It appears to have started from the 19th and 20th National Assembly elections with current Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. After serving four terms in his hometown of Muju, Jinan, and Jangsu in Jeonbuk, Chung was drafted to Seoul by party orders to take on the challenge of Jongno.

At that time, Jongno was not an easy seat for a Democratic Party candidate. The seat was held by former lawmaker Park Jin of the Grand National Party (now People Power Party), who served in the 17th and 18th National Assembly. Even the district mayor, Kim Chung-yong, who served during the 3rd and 4th elected terms, was affiliated with the Grand National Party.

There was a district mayor who turned this area into fertile ground, which became a hot topic.

That is Kim Young-jong, the mayor of Jongno District. Kim, who had previously run as a candidate for the Open Democratic Party in the Jongno district mayoral election, challenged and won the 5th elected term of Jongno district mayor and has served three terms for 11 years up to this year, making Jongno a stronghold of the Democratic Party of Korea.

This fact is also evident from former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's remarks after losing again in the 20th general election in Seoul Gwangjin District and then losing to Chung Sye-kyun. In an interview with the media at the time, Oh lamented, "I couldn't compete because the Jongno district mayor (referring to Kim Young-jong) had so well consolidated the region."

Oh, who entered as a candidate at the last minute, realized how solidly Kim Young-jong had built the foundation in the region by following Jongno district events.

Oh's remarks show how well Kim Young-jong has managed Jongno district affairs during his 11 years in office.

Upon taking office, Mayor Kim was praised for fully utilizing the rich cultural assets of Jongno, which has the most historical foundation in Seoul, to blossom 'cultural administration and urban administration.'

Since his inauguration, he has created significant cultural achievements such as the opening of the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum, Park No-su Art Museum, Cheongun Literature Museum, and Samcheong Forest Library, instilling pride in residents living in Jongno.

In particular, the Samcheong Forest Library was so impressive that The New York Times highly praised it.

Also, Kim Young-jong, who has an architectural background, demonstrated his capability by creating an underground walkway from Gwanghwamun to Jonggak without using the district budget, a feat that is expected to be applauded by residents for over 100 years.

Along with this, during his tenure, Mayor Kim not only achieved tangible results such as being rated the 'No. 1 city in national integrity' but also raised the self-esteem of both residents and district office officials.

Currently serving as the chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan District Mayors' Council, Kim Young-jong is known for his quiet personality but is expected to be remembered as a district mayor who made remarkable achievements by rewriting the history of Jongno.

A resident of Jongno, Mr. A, said, "Kim Young-jong, as the 5th to 7th elected district mayor, is undoubtedly a mayor who rewrote the history of Jongno."

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