[By-election Interview] Jo Eun-hee "I Want to Bring Warmth to Those in the Shadows"

"When the light is strong, the shadows become deep. I want to work in the National Assembly to ensure that those who receive warm light can achieve through fair effort, and that the state and society provide warmth to those in the shadows."

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Jo Eun-hee, the People Power Party candidate running in the March 9 by-election for Seoul Seocho-gu Gap, stated in an interview on the 8th, "I will make the policies I have implemented in Seocho-gu available to all citizens of the Republic of Korea."

A former journalist, Jo served as a secretary at the Blue House during the Kim Dae-jung administration, then as Seoul City’s Women and Family Policy Officer, and was the first female Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs. She was elected as the mayor of Seocho-gu for two consecutive terms during the 6th and 7th local government administrations and resigned from her mayoral position last October to run in the by-election.

Jo Eun-hee, the People Power Party candidate running in the by-election for Seocho-gu Gap, Seoul

When asked about what she wants to accomplish in the National Assembly, Jo first mentioned the 'Maternal and Child Health Center.' It was surprising that her long-standing calls for property tax reductions and the repeal of the comprehensive real estate tax were not mentioned first. Jo emphasized, "As the only opposition party mayor, I loudly advocated for property tax relief for single-home households and even raised the flag strongly, leading to talks about creating the 'Jo Eun-hee Prevention Act.' However, it is because we need eyes to see and ears to hear what the people truly need."

Jo explained, "At the Maternal and Child Health Center, from infertility treatment for couples to pregnancy, it provides specialized care on what mothers and fathers need to prepare before childbirth and how to overcome postpartum depression during child-rearing. This is extremely necessary, and it should not be limited to Seocho; everyone nationwide should be able to receive such support."

Cho Eun-hee, the People Power Party candidate (left) running in the Seoul Seocho-gu Gap by-election, and Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate

She said, "Seocho residents send maternity helpers to anyone in need, and if resources are not wasted, this policy is feasible," adding, "I believe such meticulous and attentive care is what politicians need." She also mentioned the necessity of policies for children aging out of protective care.

Jo stated, "Seocho-gu has the 'Bright Future Bureau' that I established," describing it as "a department that accompanies the vulnerable." She added, "This is a department that neither Seoul City nor the government has. These policies may not influence votes or popularity, but I want to be a member of the National Assembly who sincerely provides warm light to those in need."

Regarding allegations of undeclared assets raised by the ruling party, she firmly said, "I am not a Cinderella who suddenly appeared one day." Jo said, "I have officially disclosed my assets 10 times," and "Especially over the past four years, as the only opposition party mayor, I have administered with integrity under intense scrutiny." She went on to say, "The culture of fake news without apologies and 'say whatever you want' politics must change."

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