Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party Vice Chairman Woo Hyung-chan Likely

11th Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party's Most Senior (4-term) Member Kim Ki-deok, Serving as 10th Term Vice Chairman; 3-term Woo Hyung-chan and Kim In-je Expected to Compete for Vice Chairman; Attention on Floor Leader Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Ahead of the opening of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Democratic Party councilors, who lost their position as the largest party for the first time in four years, are preparing to form a leadership team amid concerns and worries.

Woo Hyeong-chan, Seoul City Council Member

The new leadership must humbly accept the public sentiment revealed in this local election and show a renewed image. The role of the new leadership is more crucial than ever, and it is expected that the Democratic Party's new leadership will be held by the vice-chairperson and the floor leader.

In particular, with the People Power Party becoming the overwhelming majority with 76 members, it is anticipated that the 36 seats held by the Democratic Party will face many limitations in what they can accomplish.

Accordingly, the new Democratic Party leadership will have no choice but to actively engage in cooperation with the People Power Party while maintaining clarity in their stance.

Currently, in the People Power Party, Assemblyman Kim Hyun-ki, a four-term member, is likely to be elected as the chairperson for the first half of the 11th council, while the vice-chairperson and floor leader from the Democratic Party will be elected by votes from Democratic Party councilors.

Kim Inje, Seoul City Council Member

Among the Democratic Party's multi-term councilors are Kim Ki-deok, the current vice-chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council with four terms (68 years old), Woo Hyung-chan, the current chairperson of the Transportation Committee with three terms (54 years old), and Kim In-je, former chairperson of the Urban Planning and Management Committee with three terms (49 years old).

Among the Democratic Party's first- and second-term elected members, various evaluations and opinions about the multi-term councilors are already circulating regarding the formation of the new leadership.

Assemblyman Kim Ki-deok is the most senior (four-term) member within the Democratic Party, but having served as vice-chairperson in the latter half of the 10th council, he is expected not to take another position this time for the sake of younger members.

Assemblyman Woo Hyung-chan, a three-term member, was the only one elected from Yangcheon-gu, where the People Power Party wave was strong. He served as the chairperson of the Transportation Committee in the latter half of the 10th council and has shown enthusiasm by declaring his candidacy for the council chairperson from the start of the election process.

In particular, Assemblyman Woo is evaluated as being skilled in cooperation through amicable relations with People Power Party members, gaining support from many re-elected councilors, making him the most likely candidate to join the chairperson group.

Assemblyman Kim In-je, a three-term member, served as the chairperson of the Urban Planning and Management Committee in the first half of the 10th council. He declared his candidacy for the Guro District Office but abruptly withdrew before the primary, returning to the council, and appears to have intentions to run for the chairperson group.

However, as a councilor in his 40s, Assemblyman Kim is also unlikely to rule out challenging for the floor leader position to reform the Democratic Party within the council.

The selection of the Democratic Party chairperson group for the first half of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council, which has been reduced to 36 seats as the opposition party through the June 1 local elections, is attracting attention because it carries the important task of humbly accepting the citizens' sober evaluation, reflecting on and reforming the party, and finding the right person who will embody the will to create a better Seoul Metropolitan Council through balance and checks with Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

As Democratic Party councilors are scheduled to elect the new leadership through voting, attention is focused on how much the changed will of Seoul citizens can be reflected.

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