[Reporter’s Notebook] "Number 1-ga" Is Not a Certificate of Victory

As the June 3 local elections approach, it is not uncommon to hear remarks like, "This time, number 1-ga has basically already won," at reporting sites.

Even when said jokingly, the underlying perception is serious. This attitude goes beyond underestimating the competition-it reflects a tendency to take the judgment of voters too lightly.

Photo by Seung Hyun Jung

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Candidate numbers are not individual report cards. The numbers for candidates from parties with seats in the assembly are determined in order of parliamentary representation, and if the same party fields multiple candidates in a local council election, they are labeled as "1-ga," "1-na," and so on. It is believed that being placed at the front or having the "ga" designation can offer an advantage in the actual election. However, "1-ga" does not mean the individual has already been verified; rather, it is more akin to an institutional advantage at the starting line.

That is why what Democratic Party candidates need more than confidence is humility. If some candidates act as if the election is decided the moment they receive this number, that is not confidence-it is complacency. Elections are fought with numbers, but politics is judged by attitude.

The moment a candidate mistakes the advantage of their party's brand for their own competitiveness, they are the first to stop listening and to cut back on explanations. Residents' questions become something that can be answered later, and criticism becomes something to simply endure.

But voters are much more discerning than many expect. They observe the substance of pledges, responsiveness to local concerns, attitude during debates, and even how small promises are kept. The stronger the party's support, the more clearly the candidate's personal preparation and dignity stand out. As the campaign draws to a close, the gap widens between those who think, "I'm bound to win anyway," and those who say, "I'll undergo scrutiny until the very end."

This is especially true for candidates from major parties-they must be even more humble. If they recognize that some votes are cast based on the party name before their own, they must give those votes greater weight. Nomination is not the final destination, but the starting point; an early number is not a license, but a burden of responsibility. If a candidate lets their guard down simply because they received a favorable number, from that moment, they begin to lose trust rather than gain votes.

What Democratic Party candidates must truly be wary of is not attacks from the opposition, but inertia within their own ranks. The belief that "with number 1-ga, the outcome is already decided" does not make the election easier. It only diminishes the seriousness of politics. Elections may begin with numbers, but it is the voters' decision that determines the outcome. The "1-ga" designation is not a certificate of victory, but more like a warning to remain humble.

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