People Power Party Sweeps 4 out of 5 By-Election Districts (Comprehensive)

by Lee Kimin

Published 10 Mar.2022 11:43(KST)

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chief Choi Jae-hyung in Jongno
Former District Mayor Cho Eun-hee in Seocho Gap
Kim Hak-yong and Jung Woo-taek Return to the National Assembly

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] In the by-elections for the National Assembly held alongside the 20th presidential election, the People Power Party candidates won in 4 out of 5 regions, achieving a landslide victory.

According to the Central Election Management Committee on the 10th, Choi Jae-hyung, a former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and the People Power Party candidate, was elected in Jongno, Seoul, known as the "political hotspot," with 52.09% of the vote. Kim Young-jong, a former Jongno District Mayor from the Democratic Party, ran as an independent candidate after the Democratic Party decided not to nominate a candidate, receiving 28.41% of the votes.

Immediately after his victory, Choi said, "This is the victory of the residents of Jongno who desire regime change and fairness. I will make a proud Korea and a proud Jongno. I will create a society where fairness and common sense prevail." He added, "I will transform Jongno into a better region and, following my father's last wishes, become a person who brightens the Republic of Korea."

In Seocho Gap, Seoul, Jo Eun-hee, a former Seocho District Mayor and People Power Party candidate, won overwhelmingly with 72.72% of the vote, defeating the second-place Democratic Party candidate Lee Jeong-geun, who received 24.48%.

Jo posted on her social media (SNS) on the day, "Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who retired, left a famous saying: 'Build bridges between conflicts.' With such motherly leadership, I will build bridges of harmony over the deepening divisions in our society, heal the wounds of the difficult and struggling, wipe away their tears, and become a warm politician who helps the lives of the people and a National Assembly member who practices positive politics."

In Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, and Sangdang, Cheongju, People Power Party candidates also won with majorities. Kim Hak-yong of the People Power Party secured 54.18% of the vote, becoming a four-term lawmaker, while Jeong Woo-taek of the same party won 56.92% in Sangdang, Cheongju, defeating independent candidate Kim Si-jin, who received 32.81%, and becoming a five-term lawmaker.

In Jungnang-gu, Daegu, where the People Power Party did not field a candidate due to responsibility issues, Im Byung-heon, who left the People Power Party and ran as an independent, was elected with 22.39% of the vote. He narrowly defeated Kwon Young-hyun of the People Party, who received 21.56%, by 0.83 percentage points. Meanwhile, Democratic Party candidate Baek Soo-beom received only 19.41% of the votes.