[Reporter’s Notebook] Park Jie Won-Style Social Media Politics Becomes a New Model for Mokpo

by Jung Seunghyun

Pubilshed 03 Sep.2025 15:54(KST)

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seunghyun Jung.

In Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, politics has, for some time now, been moving faster online than on the ground.

This shift has been largely influenced by National Assemblyman Park Jie Won, who placed significant emphasis on online activities even during his previous tenure as Mokpo's representative in the National Assembly.

He is quick to post about political issues on social media, maintaining close contact with local residents. With short captions, photos, and immediate responses, Assemblyman Park's approach to social media politics has become more than simple publicity; it has established itself as a new model for political communication in the region.

This trend is especially evident in the activities of figures such as Kang Seong Hwi, former head of the Jeollanam-do Social Service Institute, and Lee Ho Gyun, president of Mokpo Science University, both considered close to Park Jie Won.

For example, former director Kang Seong Hwi frequently shares his opinions through contributed articles, local activities, and commentary on current issues via social media, thereby increasing communication with local residents.

President Lee Ho Gyun has also recently launched social media and YouTube channels, expanding his reach as a YouTuber by posting card news and opinion pieces, signaling the start of activities aimed at next year's local elections.

This change is not limited to just these two individuals.

In fact, it has become customary for many local politicians in Mokpo to upload photos and brief remarks on Facebook and Instagram as soon as they attend events or have important schedules. This method of sharing news on residents' timelines before press conferences or official releases is a clear result of Assemblyman Park's influence.

The strengths of social media politics are speed and intimacy.

Residents can follow politicians' activities in real time and engage in direct communication through comments and sharing. In this structure, politicians are not just policy explainers but become "familiar neighbors" who share stories from daily life. Assemblyman Park understood this better than anyone, and other local politicians are following his lead.

However, concerns do exist.

If this trend devolves into "showcase politics," social media may generate only superficial support and attention, obscuring the essence of policies and tangible results. Political commentators point out that the number of "likes" or "followers" cannot be a true measure of politics, emphasizing that a politician's essence must ultimately be proven through action and results.

Nevertheless, the social media-driven politics pioneered by Assemblyman Park Jie Won has transformed the political landscape in Mokpo. Now, online activity precedes on-the-ground events, and social media shapes local public opinion faster than traditional media. The political community in Mokpo can no longer escape the influence of Park Jie Won-style social media politics. This is not mere imitation, but rather a new standard that regional politics has no other choice but to adopt.