"Yonsei Graduate, 10 Years of Volunteering"... Former "Utchatsa" Comedian Runs in June 3 Local Elections

Former "Utchatsa" Comedian Park Minyoung
Announces Candidacy for Proportional Representation Seat on Seongnam City Council

An image of Park Minyoung, a proportional representation preliminary candidate of Seongnam City for the Democratic Party of Korea, during her appearance on the show Ulchatsa. Screenshot from the YouTube channel 'SBS Old Variety - Baekneung'

The 6·3 local elections have drawn attention due to the diverse backgrounds of the candidates. Among those running are individuals with unique career paths such as delivery workers, cultural artists, and former athletes. In particular, the candidacy of a comedian who gained fame through the SBS comedy program "Utchatsa" has caught the public's eye.

Park Minyoung, a candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea running for proportional representation in the Seongnam City Council, is a former SBS comedian. She became known in 2014 by appearing in the "Extremes: Sexy and Boyish" segment on "Utchatsa." Since then, she has expanded her career to acting and working as a host for live commerce shows.

Felt Institutional Limitations in the Field... Prepared for Candidacy While Majoring in Political Science

The catalyst for Park's entry into politics was her decade-long experience in volunteer work. While volunteering, she became acutely aware of the limitations in welfare and administration on the ground, which convinced her of the need for institutional reform. It is reported that she subsequently prepared for candidacy by majoring in political science at Yonsei University Graduate School.

With her candidacy, the challenges she faced during her broadcast career are also being revisited. In a 2022 interview on the YouTube channel "Geunhwang Olympics," she recalled, "During my time on 'Utchatsa,' the short and tight outfits made it difficult to deal with the attention from people around me. There were times when I cried backstage and then went straight on stage," she said.

She continued, "Since I never had plastic surgery, I had to overcompensate to look more voluptuous. Sometimes I would use socks or tissues for padding. I remember feeling self-critical, thinking, 'Maybe I should have just gotten surgery. Why am I doing this to myself?'" She added, "But I had no other choice but to endure, because if I stayed in bed, my livelihood would be cut off."

Athletes Also Announce Their Bids

In this local election, candidates from sports backgrounds are also joining the political race. Lim Minhyeok (32), a Democratic Party candidate running for the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council, is a former professional soccer goalkeeper who played for teams such as Jeonnam Dragons until 2023. Upon his retirement, he drew attention with a statement saying, "I dream of a world where those who work hard and sweat are respected."

In Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Moon Hyeonjin (39), a current professional keirin cyclist, is running for city council as a candidate from the Reform New Party. He is known for donating part of his liver to his ailing mother, and during the campaign period, he continues canvassing by riding his bicycle across the region.

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