Suddenly Taking Off His Shirt and 'Click'... Why Is Kim Byeong-wook, Kim Eun-hye's Opponent, Doing This?

Kim Eun-hye's Opponent for Bundang-eul Kim Byung-wook Revealed on SNS

Kim Byung-wook (59), a Democratic Party candidate seeking a third term in the April 10 general election, attracted attention by revealing a shirtless body profile photo. Kim will face off against Kim Eun-hye (53), a former presidential secretary for public relations running as the People Power Party candidate in Bundang-eul, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, one of the most fiercely contested districts in the metropolitan area.

Body profile photo released by Kim Byung-wook, Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seongnam Bundang-eul, Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo source=Captured from Kim Byung-wook TV YouTube]

On the 23rd, Kim released a three-minute video documenting his challenge of creating a body profile on his YouTube channel and social media platforms. The video included scenes of Kim shooting the body profile and photos showing his abs without a shirt. Kim also used the body profile photos as election campaign materials.

On the 27th, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and explained the reason for taking the body profile. When the host asked, "It seems like the first time someone in politics has revealed a body profile. Why did you reveal it?" Kim replied, "Election campaigns can be a bit dry. There are attacks from opponents, and it’s tough from morning till late at night, so I thought about what could make the campaign fun and decided to do this."

He continued, "I thought I would show my commitment and determination to rebuild Bundang through reconstruction and to set the Republic of Korea on the right path with my own body. Rather than just saying what is right or wrong, I believed that showing my dedication and willpower by working hard for two to three months to get in shape and presenting it through a body profile would come across more sincerely to the residents."

He said, "Did I worry about whether it was appropriate for a member of the National Assembly to do this, or how much exposure would be acceptable? Of course, I did. I’m 58 years old, which is not an easy age, but through this challenge, I wanted to show voters a new side of me, my firm determination, and that effort pays off. I also wanted people to see it once more and have a laugh."

Online reactions to Kim’s body profile reveal were mixed. Some responded positively with comments like "There’s no such thing as being too old," "I’m inspired by the challenge," and "His commitment and will to fulfill his pledges are admirable and refreshing." However, negative reactions also appeared, such as "I wish I hadn’t seen that," "It lowers the dignity of a National Assembly member," and "Do we really have to see a shirtless body on election posters?"

Meanwhile, Bundang-eul in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, is drawing attention as one of the most competitive districts in the metropolitan area for the 22nd general election. According to a survey conducted by KBS through Korea Research from the 18th to the 20th (500 adults, 100% wireless, 95% confidence level, margin of error ±4.4 percentage points), candidates Kim Eun-hye (42%) and Kim Byung-wook (40%) are engaged in a neck-and-neck race within the margin of error.

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