Park Sun-young and Lee Joo-ho Agree on Foundation Unification... Long Road Ahead for Conservative Unification (Comprehensive)

Seoul Superintendent of Education Conservative Camp Foundation Unification 추진
100% Polling Method, Resolution by Early May
Remaining Two Candidates Face Difficulties in Foundation Unification Participation
Jo Jeon-hyeok "If Consolidated to One Including Jo Yeong-dal, Final Unification"
Jo Yeong-dal "Will Participate in Unification if Candidates Park and Lee Withdraw"

Preliminary candidates Park Sun-young and Lee Joo-ho held a joint press conference on the morning of the 27th at the Francisco Education Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and conducted a 'Conservative Candidate Unification Agreement Ceremony.'

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Conservative and moderate preliminary candidates for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent have agreed to unify their candidacies based on opinion poll results early next month. If they fail to persuade the other two candidates to participate, the unification is expected to be only partial.

On the 27th, former Minister of Education, Science and Technology Lee Ju-ho and former Dongguk University professor Park Sun-young held a press conference at the Francisco Education Center in Jung-gu, where they announced a memorandum of understanding regarding the method and schedule for unifying their candidacies. The two candidates agreed to select a single candidate through an opinion poll primary and to jointly make efforts to persuade other candidates to participate in the opinion poll primary for selecting the unified candidate. They also formed a working-level consultative body to discuss the timing and method of the primary and urged other candidates to join.

The two candidates agreed to select the candidate through a 100% opinion poll method. They plan to conduct the poll as early as next month and decide on the unified candidate before the candidate registration deadline on May 12. The two emphasized, "Since it is absolutely necessary to select a conservative unified candidate to set Seoul education right, we urge candidates Jo Jeon-hyeok and Jo Young-dal to participate."

On the day, candidate Lee said, "I have arranged to meet candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok next week, but candidate Jo Young-dal has not responded yet," adding, "We must achieve unification, and I believe we can. I created this opportunity believing that both will definitely participate."

Candidate Park said, "Starting is half the battle, and today we took a big first step," adding, "I believe candidate Jo Young-dal will not repeat the actions he took in 2018, and candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok will naturally join if he wants to be more legitimate."

However, since the two candidates selected through another unification body are negative about participating in this unification and present differing opinions, negotiations are expected to be difficult.

Candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok issued a statement on the day, saying, "If the candidates are consolidated into one person including Jo Young-dal and Park Sun-young, I will proceed with the final unification with that candidate," and added, "The final unification method will be decided either through direct negotiation with that candidate or by consulting to find another method."

Candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok also said, "If candidate Lee Ju-ho unifies only with candidate Park Sun-young, it cannot be considered as candidate consolidation, so it is unacceptable," and added, "Since candidate Park has stated she will withdraw, she should do so voluntarily, and candidate Lee Ju-ho should take responsibility for failing to consolidate the field, retract his candidacy declaration, and withdraw."

Candidate Jo Young-dal’s side stated in a statement issued under the name of the Seoul Redesign Headquarters the day before, "We will consider participating in unification if candidates Park Sun-young and Lee Ju-ho withdraw."

Even if candidates Lee Ju-ho and Park Sun-young succeed in unification, if all three candidates run, it could result in vote splitting among conservative candidates as in the 2018 election. In that election, current Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent Cho Hee-yeon was elected with 46.6% of the vote, while Park Sun-young received 36.2% and Jo Young-dal 17.3%, respectively.

Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who is seeking a third term, is expected to register as a preliminary candidate early next month. He plans to announce the candidate registration and declaration schedule around the 29th. Currently, in the progressive camp, former Vice Chairman of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union Kang Shin-man and former Seoul city council member Choi Bo-seon have declared their candidacies.

Recently, Superintendent Cho said, "I have no other path. With even mentions of reversing the autonomous private high school policy by the ministerial candidate, I believe the task of preserving the existing path of educational innovation remains with me."

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