Average Candidate Age 37... People Power Party Designates Seoul Eunpyeong as "Special Youth Zone"

The People Power Party has nominated a large number of young candidates in their 20s and 30s for the basic and metropolitan council elections in Eunpyeong, Seoul, with an average age of 37.

Bae Hyunjin, a member of the National Assembly and head of the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on April 15, 2026. She stated, "We have designated Eunpyeong-gu, one of Seoul's most challenging constituencies, as a special youth zone and have signaled the beginning of Seoul's renewal by recruiting talent who break the existing mold."

Yang Kiyeol, Chairman of the Eunpyeong-gu Eul Party Committee of the People Power Party, is introducing the young candidates who will run in the June 3 local elections in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

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Bae further added, "This round of nominations goes beyond a simple generational transition and focuses on strengthening the lineup with individuals who possess practical work capabilities and outstanding professionalism to address local issues."

Nam Hyunwoo, the candidate running in Eunpyeong Gap in the 9th nationwide local elections on June 3, is a young entrepreneur born in 1995, who graduated from a Swiss hotel management university and has experience as a chef. Kim Youngwoong, the candidate for Eunpyeong Eul, was born in 2000 and is a young self-employed individual who majored in social welfare.

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter commented, "Nam is expected to apply the meticulous service mindset he developed in the kitchen and on the ground to public administration, serving as a foundation for attentively supporting residents' daily lives. Kim is evaluated as someone who will propose practical livelihood solutions for small business owners and youth by combining his firsthand experience on the front lines and a welfare-oriented perspective."

Along with them, other young candidates throwing their hats into the ring for this election include Noh Seunghan (born in 1993), Jang Kyeongeun (born in 1994), Hwang Hojin (born in 1989), Lee Hanbaek (born in 1991), and Oh Soyoung (born in 1986).

Jang Jinyoung, head of the Dongjak Gap district committee and a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter’s nomination committee, emphasized, "There have been many cases of young people being nominated in politics, but the Eunpyeong Youth Special Zone is not about tokenism or mere window dressing. These are substantive nominations made to enable young people to lead real change in Eunpyeong."

The average age of basic and metropolitan council candidates in the Eunpyeong area has been found to be in the mid-to-late 30s. After the press conference, Bae told reporters, "All of our candidates are in their 20s and 30s. The average age of nominees in the previous round was 61, but this time, we have reduced it to 37."

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