Wono Jung: "A Candidate Recognized by the President"... Jumin Park: "One Who Shares Philosophy with Lee"

Youngbae Kim Raises Concerns Over "Three-Lacks" Primary: Lack of Policy, Vision, and Debate
Hyunhee Jeon Emphasizes She Is "The Only Candidate to Have Won in Gangnam"

The preliminary candidates for the Seoul mayoral race from the Democratic Party of Korea presented their respective visions and appealed for party members' support at the joint speech event for the preliminary primary on March 21. There was ongoing scrutiny directed at candidate Wono Jung, who has recently shown a strong lead in opinion polls.

Wono Jung, the first to take the stage, stated, "An election is not about fighting your opponent, but about fighting the inconveniences faced by citizens. The exhaustion from overcrowded subways every morning, the daunting rise in housing and education costs, and the desperation of parents with no place to leave their children—these are the challenges citizens face, and I will fight them to the end."

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Bae Jaeman = On the 21st, at the joint speech event for Seoul mayoral preliminary candidates held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, the preliminary candidates took a commemorative photo. From the left, Jumin Park, Wono Jung, So Byunghun, Chairman of the Central Party Election Commission, Hyunhee Jeon, Hyungnam Kim, and Youngbae Kim. 2026.3.21 scoop@yna.co.kr (End)

He also described himself as "a Seoul mayoral candidate recognized by a president who values competence" and pledged, "I will stand at the forefront of the campaign to reclaim Seoul."

Jung further emphasized his competitiveness in Gangnam, noting, "In the challenging local elections, I won a landslide victory as mayor of Seongdong-gu, proving my strength in the Hangang Belt. Recent opinion polls show that I, Wono Jung, am ahead of the People Power Party's candidate even in the Gangnam region."

Jumin Park, another frontrunner alongside Jung, remarked, "For this election, there is more than one way for the Democratic Party to win," stressing that he is the right person for the job due to his substantial experience working alongside President Jaemyung Lee.

Park, a three-term lawmaker, sought to hold Jung, a former district mayor, in check by stating, "The administration of a local district head is about 'close engagement and execution.' It's a managerial role. The administration of the Seoul mayor requires 'design through strategy and coordination.' It's a designer's role."

Park noted, "The mayor of Seoul is the only head of a local government to participate in Cabinet meetings," and added, "The mayor must be someone who aligns with President Lee's philosophy of governance." He continued, "Last year, I was entrusted with negotiation authority by leader Jaemyung Lee and achieved pension reform for the National Pension Service. I also chaired the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and led the party's special committee on the medical crisis."

Park further remarked, "On the night of the rebellion, there were those who rushed to the National Assembly, and those who did not. There are those who have embodied the values of the Democratic Party, and those who have not. That difference always becomes apparent in times of crisis."

He argued, "A candidate who truly represents the Democratic Party must be chosen. While party members may select a pragmatic leader, they will not choose one who is conservative," sharpening his criticism.

Youngbae Kim, a two-term lawmaker, described himself as "the only candidate with experience in administration, national governance, and parliamentary activities," and highlighted his past victory over then-mayor Sehoon Oh during his tenure as mayor of Seongbuk-gu, when he implemented eco-friendly free school meals.

Kim also raised issues with the Democratic Party's primary process, stating, "Is this not a 'three-lacks' primary, with no competition of policies and vision, and insufficient debate?" He continued, "Should the first primary in this era of party member sovereignty be reduced to a popularity contest? With candidates lacking verified political or administrative capabilities, it is difficult to guarantee a win in the main election." His comments were seen as targeting Jung.

Hyunhee Jeon, a three-term lawmaker, highlighted her time as Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission under President Seokyeol Yoon, stating, "The Yoon administration investigated me thoroughly, but not a speck of dust was found." Jeon emphasized her electoral success in the Gangnam area, saying, "Unlike other candidates who are based in northern Seoul, I have won in both Gangnam and Gangbuk, and am the only candidate who can communicate across progressive and conservative lines and actually win."

Targeting Jung, Jeon remarked, "You cannot entrust the command of a massive battleship to someone who can only steer a small sailboat," and asserted, "With the political experience of a three-term lawmaker and national governance experience as a ministerial-level anti-corruption chief, I will safely lead the Seoul fleet."

Hyeongnam Kim urged supporters to back him for one of the three available spots in the main primary, despite the prevailing two-way race. He stated, "I have campaigned every single day during the primary period, visiting regions where the Reform New Party performed well in the last presidential election. If expanding to the center is the formula for victory, then the 'center' should now be defined by generation, not region."

He continued, "I, Hyeongnam Kim, will firmly mobilize the 20s and 30s generation—the age group with the most volatile approval ratings and for whom the Democratic Party is still unfamiliar—to the polls."

The Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral preliminary candidates will be narrowed down through the preliminary primary on March 23–24, with the final candidate selected in the main primary on April 7–9. The preliminary primary will be determined entirely by votes from dues-paying party members, while the main primary will be decided by a combination of 50% party member votes and 50% public opinion polls. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will be held from April 17–19 of the same month.

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