[News Glossary] The 'By-Election' to Select One Gangseo District Mayor in Seoul

Early voting for the Gangseo District Mayor by-election in Seoul began on October 6, drawing significant public attention. Although this is a small-scale election to select a single district mayor, the political community views it as a crucial test that could indicate the direction of next year's general elections.

A by-election is an additional election held when an elected official loses their eligibility due to a criminal conviction after their term has started, or when the seat becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or other reasons. According to the Public Official Election Act, by-elections are held when a vacancy arises for a constituency member of the National Assembly, a local council member, a head of a local government, or a superintendent of education.

Re-elections and by-elections, collectively known as "re-by-elections," are held twice a year, in the first and second halves. For National Assembly members and local council members, they are held in April, while for heads of local governments, they take place in April or October. Unlike regular elections, the day of a re-by-election is not designated as a public holiday, and the term of office for the winner is limited to the remaining term of their predecessor.

Residents are voting at the early voting station set up at Banghwa 1-dong Community Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 6th, the early voting day for the Gangseo District Mayor by-election. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

This by-election is being held only in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It was triggered after Kim Taewoo, then Gangseo District Mayor, lost his position in May 2023 due to a final guilty verdict by the Supreme Court. Previously, Kim had revealed allegations that Cho Kuk, former Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, had intervened to halt an inspection, for which Kim received a suspended prison sentence for leaking official secrets. However, he was reinstated and regained his eligibility to run for office following a special pardon on Liberation Day in August.

There are six candidates running in the Gangseo District Mayor by-election: Jin Kyohun from the Democratic Party, Kim Taewoo from the People Power Party, Kwon Sujeong from the Justice Party, Kwon Hyein from the Progressive Party, Kim Yuri from the Green Party, and Ko Youngil from the Liberty Unification Party. The number of eligible voters is 500,603, which accounts for 88.5% of Gangseo-gu's total population of 565,785.

Election posters are posted near the Hwagog Station intersection in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, one week before the Gangseo District Mayor by-election on the 4th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

Early voting is being held over two days, October 6 and 7, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Voters must present a valid photo ID with their date of birth, such as a resident registration card, youth card, passport, or driver's license issued by a public institution, to the poll workers for identity verification. After confirming their identity, voters must either sign or provide a fingerprint on the verification device before receiving their ballot and casting their vote. Mobile IDs are not accepted if they are screenshots or saved images.

Detailed information, including the locations of early voting stations, can be found on the National Election Commission website or in the voting guide sent to each household. The main election will be held on October 11 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and after the polls close, the winner will be determined following the ballot count.

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