By-elections to pick heads of local governments and council members


The two main candidates for Seoul mayor kicked off a 13-day official campaign Thursday.

The Oct. 26 by-election with the top post of the capital at stake is expected to influence the political power structure in the run-up to general and presidential elections next year. The race for the office, left vacant since Mayor Oh Se-hoon resigned after losing the free school lunch referendum, is especially important as a quarter of the nation’s population lives in Seoul with some 8.4 million voters.

The by-elections will be picking 11 city, ward and county heads, and dozens of local assembly members in 42 electoral districts nationwide, and a higher-than-average voter turnout is anticipated.

This is especially the case in the Seoul mayoral race, where independent Park Won-soon, representing opposition parties and liberal civic group, leads Grand National Party nominee Na Kyung-won by a small margin. Up to 65 percent of Seoul voters said they would “definitely vote,” Seoul city said, quoting a recent poll of 500 eligible voters.

Na, a mother of two enjoying a steady backing from Seoul moms, started electioneering from midnight, meeting merchants at a popular night shopping area in Dongdaemun, central Seoul.

“I will become a mayor who has the best interest in keeping the ordinary Seoulites happy,” she said during the campaigning. 

By 10 a.m., she was joined by former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who visited an employment support center in southern Seoul to solicit more public support.

The direct endorsement from Park, considered the strongest contender for the next president, is seen as an important factor that could sway the mayoral race. The daughter of former President Park Chung-hee has usually distanced herself from party affairs and by-elections where there is much political risk.

The ruling party hopes Park’s support for its candidates in their by-election campaign will boost Na’s chances.

Asked her personal opinion of Na, Park said the candidate “has already proven her ability throughout the years” and praised her efforts to improve the livelihoods of disabled children. 

Park campaigned alongside Na for up to seven hours Thursday, visiting some seven facilities in the southwestern Seoul region including Guro and Geumcheon.

Liberal candidate Park, a lawyer-turned-activist with no party affiliation, met citizens and merchants in downtown Seoul, pledging to create “a good city with good citizens.”

Park’s campaign was joined by left-leaning political leaders including Sohn Hak-kyu, head of the main opposition Democratic Party, Rhyu Si-min, chairman of the minor opposition People’s Participation Party, and Moon Jae-in, a close confidant of ex-President Roh Moo-hyun.

The two candidates squared off in a third television debate Thursday night.

In their debate broadcast by SBS on Monday, the candidates locked horns over allegations related to ethical standards, experiences and policies.

While the liberal activist has been stressing the need for a complete break from Oh’s “right-leaning” policies, Na has been putting forth her experiences as a two-term lawmaker.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)