Challenges of Cultural, Arts, and Sports Stars Running for National Assembly, What Are the Results?

Jin Jong-oh, the "Shooting Emperor" and South Korea's most decorated Olympic gold medalist with four golds, is starting the second chapter of his life wearing a gold badge. As in previous general elections, political parties recruited well-known stars from the culture, arts, and sports sectors with high public recognition to run in this election. Jin Jong-oh also entered Yeouido as a ruling party lawmaker. Kim Jae-won, who performed under the stage name "Ria," also smoothly entered the 22nd National Assembly as a proportional representative elected from the Party for National Innovation.

Jin Jong-oh Elected [Photo by Yonhap News]

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Jin Jong-oh was assigned the 4th spot on the People Power Party's proportional representation list, virtually guaranteeing his election. As of 9 a.m. on the 11th, with 99.95% of proportional votes counted, the People Power Party recorded a proportional vote share of 36.67%, expected to secure at least 18 seats. Jin Jong-oh is a star holding the records for the most Olympic gold medals and the most total medals (6) for South Korea. After officially retiring in March last year, he served as a director of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and was recruited by the People Power Party in February this year. He was assigned the 4th spot on the proportional representation list of the People Power Party's satellite party, People Power Future, effectively reserving his seat in the National Assembly early on.

Kim Jae-won, the Party for National Innovation candidate, was assigned the 7th spot on the proportional list and entered the National Assembly. The Party for National Innovation is expected to win at least 12 seats with a proportional vote share of 24.25%. Kim Jae-won had previously declared support for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate in the 20th presidential election, but recently left the Democratic Party and joined the Party for National Innovation.

Kim Jae-won Elected [Photo by Yonhap News]

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Candidates recruited in the 21st general election who sought re-election this time experienced mixed fortunes. Lee Yong, former coach of the national bobsleigh and skeleton teams, lost narrowly to Chu Mi-ae, a prominent opposition politician, in the Hanam City Gap district of Gyeonggi Province. Lee Yong, who entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative in the 21st National Assembly, aimed for re-election by running in a district this time. Initial exit polls from the three major broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS predicted Lee Yong would receive 44.3% of the vote, significantly trailing Chu Mi-ae's 55.7%. However, once counting began, Lee appeared to take a comfortable lead, creating an atmosphere of an upset. Lee lost the lead after 2 a.m. on the 11th. The final count showed Lee with 50,229 votes (49.41%) and Chu with 51,428 votes (50.58%).

On the other hand, Im Oh-kyung, a gold medalist in women's handball at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a Democratic Party lawmaker, succeeded in her re-election bid. Im is also well known as the real-life protagonist of the film "Forever the Moment." Elected in the 2020 general election with 47.7% of the vote in Gwangmyeong Gap, Gyeonggi Province, Im received even stronger support this time with 58.7%, securing her second term.

Im Ok-kyung (left) and Park Ju-min [Photo by Yonhap News]

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New candidates from the culture and tourism sectors who challenged the general election faced consecutive defeats. Ha Jong-dae, former president of the Korea Policy Broadcasting Corporation (KTV), ran as a People Power Party candidate in Bucheon Byeong, Gyeonggi Province, but lost to Lee Geon-tae of the Democratic Party, who received 84,886 votes (54.44%). Ha received 59,312 votes (38.04%). Ha held his retirement ceremony on January 10, just 1 year and 2 months after his appointment, and registered as a preliminary candidate for Yeongdeungpo Gap on January 16, only six days later. However, Kim Young-joo, who left the Democratic Party, was strategically nominated in Yeongdeungpo Gap, leading Ha to be recommended first for Bucheon Byeong, where he faced Lee Geon-tae.

Kim Jang-sil, former president of the Korea Tourism Organization and a 19th National Assembly member, attempted to run in the general election but failed to receive party nomination, drawing sympathy. Kim retired from the Korea Tourism Organization presidency in January and declared his candidacy for his hometown area of Sacheon, Namhae, and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province. However, he was excluded from the People Power Party's nomination for the Sacheon, Namhae, Hadong district. Kim, originally from Namhae, entered the 19th National Assembly as a proportional representative. He sought nomination for Busan Saha Gap in the 20th National Assembly but was cut off, reportedly ending his ambitions.

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