Contrasting Views on Jung Wono: "Liked by Conservatives" vs "No Central Political Experience" [Current Affairs Show]

Kim Yunhyeong: "Jung Wono Offers Freshness and Expansion Potential"

Ha Heongi: "Chu Mi-ae Likely to Be Gyeonggi Governor Candidate"

"Han Donghoon Unlikely to Run" vs. "Let's Wait and See"

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Mon-Fri, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Producer: PD Lee Kyungdo

■ Guests: Former People Power Party Spokesperson Kim Yunhyeong, Former Democratic Party Spokesperson Ha Heongi (March 5)

※ When citing content from this article, please specify 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show'.

So Jongseop: After nominating Woo Sangho as the sole candidate for Gangwon Province Governor, the Democratic Party has also selected Representative Park Chan-dae as the sole candidate for Incheon mayor. Furthermore, former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyungsoo has been nominated as the sole candidate for the same position. The party is rapidly finalizing its lineup of candidates. I am here with Kim Yunhyeong, former spokesperson for the People Power Party, and Ha Heongi, former spokesperson for the Democratic Party. Welcome.

Kim Yunhyeong·Ha Heongi: Thank you.

So Jongseop: The Democratic Party has confirmed five candidates for the Seoul mayoral race. They are Representative Kim Youngbae, former Center for Military Human Rights Secretary General Kim Hyungnam, Representatives Park Joomin and Jun Hyeonhee, and former Seongdong District Mayor Jung Wono. How would you assess each of their strengths and weaknesses?

Preliminary candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea running for Seoul mayor attended the metropolitan government candidate interview held at the Yeouido Central Party Office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd of last month. The Democratic Party primary was decided as a five-way race excluding Representative Hongkeun Park (third from the right). Yonhap News

Ha Heongi: In the case of Representative Kim Youngbae, he is highly experienced. He is a two-term district mayor, served as a secretary in the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations, and is a two-term National Assembly member. He has experience in legislation, administration, and state affairs. Although his public recognition is somewhat lacking, I consider him a candidate with significant growth potential. For Representative Jun Hyeonhee, she won an election in Gangnam, which is considered a tough district for the party. Given her credentials and background, she potentially has more room to expand the party's support base. However, her character, which is favored mainly by core party supporters, could also be a drawback. Still, I believe there is plenty of potential for her.

The strongest points for Representative Park Joomin are his high name recognition and his political experience as a standing committee chair. On the flip side, high recognition can also mean a lack of novelty and that his weaknesses are already exposed. To expand his appeal, he will need to overcome significant resistance. This is the current landscape, which also includes former Mayor Jung Wono, who is an emerging figure. As someone who is just starting to gain attention, he will need to overcome certain barriers.

As for candidate Kim Hyungnam, his candidacy alone brings a sense of freshness to the party. It sends a message that even younger people are willing to take on the challenge, regardless of whether they win or lose, by sharing their vision and standing up to senior members. In that sense, the act of running for office and presenting his vision itself is a strength.

Democratic Party's Seoul Mayoral Primary: A Five-Way Race With One Strong, Two Middle, and Two Weak Candidates

Kim Yunhyeong: Even though the Democratic Party is the ruling party, it seems they entered the primary race faster than us and have already narrowed down the candidate pool, which is unfortunate for us. I view the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidates as one strong, two middle, and two weak contenders. Jung Wono, the former district mayor, is the strongest; Representatives Park Joomin and Jun Hyeonhee are the two middle contenders; and Representative Kim Youngbae and former Secretary General Kim Hyungnam are the two weaker ones.

So Jongseop: How do you assess the competitiveness of former Seongdong District Mayor Jung Wono?

Ha Heongi: Since this is an economic news outlet, let me use the KOSPI as an analogy. There are three types of major politicians. First, there are those who break through the KOSPI index, much like certain stocks. People wonder, "What makes this company so strong that it outperforms the index, especially during tough times?" Jung Wono is such a person. Even when the party or the broader progressive camp is struggling, he breaks through and survives on his personal competitiveness.

On the other hand, there are those who lift the KOSPI index itself—like SK Hynix or Samsung Electronics in the stock market. For example, when Lee Junseok was elected as party leader, he lifted the entire party. Then, there are most politicians whose fortunes are tied to the index—they rise and fall with the market. I would classify Mayor Oh Sehoon in this third group. Although former Mayor Jung will still need to be vetted, I would say that, if I had to compare, he is a candidate with significant growth potential.

On the 4th, Jung Wono, the mayor of Seongdong District who resigned, is seen greeting citizens as he leaves the district office building. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Yunhyeong: I have actually been saying for a long time that former Mayor Jung would become prominent. During the last local elections, the Democratic Party suffered a heavy defeat, didn't they? There is a tendency for straight-ticket voting, but former Mayor Jung broke that trend. That made me pay close attention to him, and coincidentally, I live in a neighborhood adjacent to Seongdong District, so I happened to observe some of the local events, which were very resident-friendly. The administration was closely attuned to the residents' needs.

Of course, he will face intense scrutiny going forward. The Democratic Party will vet him internally, and the People Power Party will also subject him to rigorous scrutiny and attacks. Regarding his achievements in Seongdong District, many were possible because former President Lee Myungbak created Seoul Forest, so the People Power Party will scrutinize these points closely. How he will defend against that remains to be seen.

So Jongseop: What do you see as the secret to former Mayor Jung's popularity?

The Secret to Jung Wono's Popularity Is That Even Conservatives Like Him

Ha Heongi: First of all, conservatives like him. Former Mayor Jung did not rise due to progressive policies, but rather, during the time when Seongdong District was on the rise, the area experienced gentrification, which he did not simply ignore or resolve through progressive ideology. Instead, the district office intervened directly and created win-win solutions. As a result, even conservatives like him. In contrast, many of the other candidates are closely tied to the Democratic Party and tend to follow the party line. People are keenly interested in what might happen if his administrative capabilities and communication with residents were to expand from Seongdong District to all of Seoul, which is why they pay attention and are fond of him.

Kim Yunhyeong: I think that could actually be a weakness. The position of Seoul mayor is not simply an administrative one.

There are many political implications. Among Democratic Party supporters and progressives, some may feel that he is not aligned with their views and may even be opposed to him. In a recent media interview, he said that former Seoul Mayor Lee Myungbak focused on results and performance and that it was his duty to taxpayers, a statement that is reasonable and relatable. However, how would this be perceived by the high-engagement, hard-core supporters of the Democratic Party? It could actually make him vulnerable to attacks. Notably, when former President Yoon Sukyeol was sentenced to life imprisonment, Jung posted about it on social media and was immediately criticized, leading him to delete and revise the post. His main strength—broad appeal—could become a liability in this primary, and how he overcomes it will be key.

So Jongseop: What would you say is former Mayor Jung's biggest weakness?

Jung Wono: "Lacks Specific Policy Commitments" and "No Central Political Experience"

Ha Heongi: He has not clearly stated what he intends to do. For example, if he becomes Seoul mayor, what will he do in terms of administration? In terms of real estate, which areas will be redeveloped, how will issues be resolved, how will he address conflicts? These specifics are lacking, leaving only rhetoric. When he does present his vision, it will be important to see how realistic, novel, and relatable it is to residents. This will become the basis for competition. Negative campaigning should be approached with great caution because it often backfires. That happened to candidate Lee Nakyon in the presidential primary and to Representative Park Chan-dae in the previous party convention. Rather than focusing on negative tactics, there should be a policy-based competition, but that requires setting the agenda. So far, he hasn't shown much in this regard.

Kim Yunhyeong: His lack of central political experience is, in my view, his greatest weakness. Even within the Democratic Party primary, there will be many questions about how he plans to overcome this. He will need to provide highly political answers, but I am not sure if he can adequately prepare for that. I have doubts about whether he can handle such intense attacks perfectly.

Ha Heongi: Central politics is in a dismal state right now. In reality, it is often those who have been somewhat removed from politics who benefit from a surge of support and win elections. In our party, we have rarely elected traditional politicians. I actually think that lacking central political experience and emphasizing his administrative background can be a significant plus.

*Click the video to watch the full content.

So Jongseop: Do you think former Mayor Jung will become the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate?

Kim Yunhyeong: I am almost certain that he will be selected.

Jung Wono Expected to Be Chosen as Democratic Party Candidate

So Jongseop: Why?

Kim Yunhyeong: Although his lack of central political experience makes him an easy target for political attacks, ordinary voters may perceive him as a fresh face. They may choose him for his freshness and administrative competence. Since Mayor Oh Sehoon has been in office for a long time, that image is firmly imprinted in people's minds, so voters may select Jung with Oh as the virtual opponent in mind.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon explained the details during the 'Southwest Area Grand Transformation 2.0' press conference held at Seoul City Hall on the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Ha Heongi: I think party members and Seoul citizens are assessing which candidate would be most competitive against Mayor Oh Sehoon. Given the current situation, it seems likely that former Mayor Jung will be chosen. It would not be easy for this to change.

So Jongseop: Among the so-called "Myung picks" mentioned for the Gyeonggi Province primary, there is talk that Representative Han Jungho is struggling to gain traction in the polls.

Ha Heongi: Just because the president mentions a candidate doesn't mean their poll numbers will rise. If the president mentions Representatives Jun Hyeonhee, Park Joomin, or Kim Youngbae, that doesn't automatically make them the frontrunner. Jung Wono simply accepted the designation. In the last party convention, the so-called "Myung pick" was Representative Park Chan-dae. All the party lawmakers supported him. Hardly anyone supported Representative Chung Cheongrae, but he became the party leader. So, thinking that being a "Myung pick" guarantees higher competitiveness is an illusion. The key is how to capture voters' hearts. Now, Representative Han Jungho is a two-term lawmaker, has served on the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee, and has done well. If the campaign focuses on "Why aren't the poll numbers rising despite being a Myung pick?" you might miss the essence.

So Jongseop: The recent moves seem to be an effort to make the "Myung pick" more prominent, don't you think?

Ha Heongi: That's how it is being evaluated now. But I think such evaluations indicate a problem with the campaign. If the focus is on meetings with certain party members or on which faction they belong to, that doesn't greatly help in winning votes. Since he is a capable and experienced candidate, I suggest focusing on campaigns that win over voters' hearts instead.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Junho Han held a press conference announcing his candidacy for the Governor of Gyeonggi Province at the National Assembly Communication Office on February 12. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Yunhyeong: I think it's because the Democratic Party has too many seats in the National Assembly.

So Jongseop: Too many seats?

Kim Yunhyeong: Because the Democratic Party has so many lawmakers, it is rare for any individual to stand out. Frankly, it's what people call "shorts politics"—those who make bold or provocative statements get noticed by the media, so most lawmakers do not get much attention. Representative Han Jungho became well-known for hiding President Lee Jaemyung in the woods during martial law. Although he had been a staunch ally before, he lacked visibility. Having so many seats has actually prevented the party from enjoying the usual "incumbency premium." As for the Gyeonggi Province primary, I think it will be chaotic—there are many strong contenders, so I expect heated debates and aggressive attacks. In such a scenario, Representative Han Jungho will need to adapt his approach; just emphasizing the Myung pick won't be enough.

Ha Heongi: Don't just think of it as an incumbency premium. Governor Kim Donghyeon, who is disliked by the pro-Myung faction and its supporters, is leading in the polls. This is data that should be looked at objectively. If you ignore the data and focus only on emotions or factional narratives, the Democratic Party will end up like the People Power Party. There are poll results available, but the party keeps getting trapped in its own narrative.

Representative Chu Mi-ae Holds the Advantage in the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province Primary

So Jongseop: What about Representative Chu Mi-ae? There is a perception that she leads among party members.

Kim Yunhyeong: I predict that Representative Chu Mi-ae will launch strong attacks on Governor Kim Donghyeon. Based on her record as Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair and her political career, she has passionately attacked those on the opposite side, which has energized her supporters. I think she will do the same in the Gyeonggi Province primary. The other candidates will feel no hesitation in attacking Governor Kim. I cautiously predict that there will be no synergy effect in the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province primary.

Democratic Party lawmaker Chu Mi-ae, Chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is seen conversing with committee members in the main chamber of the National Assembly on February 28. Photo by Yonhap News

Ha Heongi: Representative Chu Mi-ae is a unique figure; only about 2% of the 300 lawmakers in the National Assembly have personal fandoms. Regardless of how people evaluate her, she has a solid support base of her own.

So, in internal party competition, she is at a great advantage. Conversely, if Gyeonggi Province were a difficult district where general election competitiveness is crucial, her fandom could be a liability. But that's not the case—it's widely expected that any Democratic candidate will win. In such a scenario, having a fandom is advantageous, so she should be viewed differently from the other candidates. Right now, Representative Chu Mi-ae is the closest to becoming Gyeonggi Province governor.

Kim Yunhyeong: Preliminary candidates for local government positions in Gyeonggi Province who are close to President Lee Jaemyung seem to be actively attacking Governor Kim Donghyeon. This indicates that Governor Kim lacks a party base and is not popular among party members. Therefore, it would be a strategic mistake for Governor Kim to suddenly try to say what party members want to hear at this stage.

Ha Heongi: Governor Kim did not become Gyeonggi Province governor on his own. President Lee Jaemyung had already built up strong support in Gyeonggi, and Kim benefited from that during the nomination process. However, once he became governor, some of his statements have alienated party members and supporters. Politicians can make such statements, but in my view, some of his remarks went too far. For example, he openly aligned himself with lawmakers like Jeon Haecheol.

So Jongseop: Let's talk about the People Power Party. Spokesperson Kim, you accompanied former leader Han Donghoon on his recent visit to Daegu, right?

Kim Yunhyeong: Yes. In addition to Seomun Market, former leader Han visited several places on a private schedule, and I accompanied him. He met with franchise operators, eyewear store owners,and also visited Mido Coffeehouse....

So Jongseop: Mido Coffeehouse is famous. Were the people gathered at Seomun Market from Daegu?

Han Donghoon Plans Nationwide Listening Tour, Will Visit Gupo Market in Busan on the 7th

Kim Yunhyeong: Seomun Market is a permanent market and is too large to fill with mobilized supporters. It is a huge traditional market, but the infrastructure is not developed enough for large buses to drop off or park. So, it is impossible to fill the place with supporters. We met a lot of people and received numerous messages of support. I thought we would be done in about an hour, but it ended up taking over three hours because former leader Han met so many people—his clothes even got torn.

Ha Heongi: The People Power Party has lost its operational function. For example, when they tried to organize a street march to criticize the Three Judicial Reform Bills, they failed to file a protest notification 48 hours in advance, so they had to switch to a silent protest. The leadership was silent, but Yoon Again supporters chanted slogans behind them. To bystanders, it looked like a Yoon Again rally, not a protest against the judicial reform bills. So, the party leadership inadvertently ended up leading a Yoon Again rally. The People Power Party currently lacks competent organizers for off-site protests or public engagement events. This is a serious issue that should prompt a thorough review of the party's operations, not just criticism.

Kim Yunhyeong: Instead of accurately assessing whether former leader Han really received such a warm welcome and support at Seomun Market, critics are too quick to disparage us or prepare countermeasures. The Gupo Market visit on the 7th is notable, as former President Yoon Sukyeol also visited there, and it is expected to be the site of a by-election. That is the constituency of Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo. His planned visits reveal that he is keeping various possibilities open. He has said he will travel all over the country, not just Daegu and the PK region, to listen to public opinion.

Yonhap News

So Jongseop: What do you think of former leader Han's recent actions?

Ha Heongi: Frankly, I don't think he will run in the election, or if he does, he will lose. When you are in a tough position, you should not look for an easy district or test the waters. Instead, you should go, regardless of the difficulty, and win support through your own efforts. When Lee Junseok first declared his candidacy in Dongtan, he started with double-digit deficits in the polls, but he won. That is how you make a name for yourself and run for president. In a recent interview, Cho Kuk, the leader of the Innovation Party, also mentioned Lee Junseok when discussing his own election plans.

Former leader Han needs to show real vision, whether by running in a difficult district like Daegu, Busan, or Gyeyang. Right now, he just keeps repeating the same things in different places. Is there really anything new to listen to? By now, he should have made up his mind, persuaded people, and taken action. The fact that he hasn't done so suggests he is hesitant.

Han Donghoon Unlikely to Declare His Candidacy by June 3

So Jongseop: So you think there is a high possibility that he won't declare his candidacy by June 3?

Ha Heongi: That's right.

Kim Yunhyeong: What sets former leader Han apart from other politicians is that, having been expelled from the party, he is now an independent. There is still some time left. Since the constituencies have not yet been finalized, he must consider not only competition with the People Power Party candidate but also, given his stature, with Democratic Party and Innovation Party candidates.

Ha Heongi: To me, it sounds like he will only run if the odds are favorable. If not, he won't. At this point, like other candidates, he should commit clearly to running, regardless of the difficulty. Saying he is considering various factors is just leaving an escape route open. I have no reason to disparage him, but at this stage, he needs to make a decision.

Kim Yunhyeong: Some may say he is being ambiguous, but ultimately, I believe former leader Han will have to prove himself through the results. Let's wait a little longer.

So Jongseop: Thank you both.

Kim Yunhyeong·Ha Heongi: Thank you.

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