Woo Sang-ho, Kim Nam-jun and Jeon Eun-su win; Ha Jung-woo and Kim Byung-wook fall short

Jeon Eun-su, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate who won the South Chungcheong Asan-eul by-election, greets supporters at her campaign office on Thursday. [Yonhap]
Jeon Eun-su, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate who won the South Chungcheong Asan-eul by-election, greets supporters at her campaign office on Thursday. [Yonhap]

Former Cheong Wa Dae aides who ran in Wednesday's nationwide local elections — held one year into President Lee Jae Myung's term — posted a mixed record, with roughly half winning their races.

Woo Sang-ho, a former presidential political affairs secretary who received the Democratic Party's first uncontested nomination, defeated incumbent People Power Party candidate Kim Jin-tae in a tight race to win the Gangwon Province governorship.

Kim Nam-kuk, a former digital communications secretary, also won re-election in the Ansan-gap National Assembly by-election in Gyeonggi Province, defeating PPP candidate Kim Seok-hun.

Kim had previously stepped back from running after facing cryptocurrency speculation allegations, then joined the presidential office as a secretary shortly after Lee's election victory, only to resign amid controversy over an alleged personnel favor involving a local acquaintance.

Kim Nam-jun, considered one of President Lee's closest allies, won the Incheon Gyeyang-eul National Assembly by-election. Jeon Eun-su — promoted from deputy spokesperson to spokesperson ahead of the vote — secured a seat in the Asan-eul by-election in South Chungcheong Province.

Son Hwa-jeong, the only presidential office administrator-level figure to advance through a party primary, won the Incheon Yeongjong district mayoral race and is expected to work closely with incoming Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae in support of the Lee administration.

On the losing side, Ha Jung-woo, a former AI future planning secretary, fell short in the Busan Buk-gap National Assembly by-election, losing to independent candidate Han Dong-hoon by roughly 1,500 votes. Kim Byung-wook, a former presidential political affairs secretary, also lost his bid for Seongnam mayor to incumbent PPP candidate Shin Sang-jin.


sang@heraldcorp.com