During the recent by-election debate for the position of Gangseo District Office Chief, candidates Kim Tae-woo (on the left) and Jin Kyo-hoon presented their policies and visions for the future of the district. Photo by The Central Election Broadcasting Debate Committee

The Curious Case of a District Election in South Korea

By Byung Kee Park

Seoul, South Korea — In the sprawling metropolis of Seoul with its 25 districts, one would imagine it to be a straightforward task to elect a district leader, especially for the seemingly inconspicuous district of Gangseo-gu. Yet, here we are, with the entire nation of South Korea on the edge of their seats, popcorn in hand, eagerly awaiting the results of an election in this very district. 

You'd think they were selecting the next K-pop sensation!

South Korea's two major political parties, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, treat this by-election as the political Super Bowl. Why? Well, Gangseo-gu's by-election has become the latest barometer of the public's sentiment towards the two parties. With 506,603 eligible voters in Gangseo-gu, it's a sample size any statistician would dream of! 

Interestingly, 54.5% are below 40 years old, while the rest are above 50. So, a little young and old mixed into our election stew.

Now, add to this mix Mr. Kim Tae-woo, the previous district leader and the candidate from the People Power Party. Kim, who surprisingly managed to clinch the district leader position in 2022 by defeating the Democratic Party's Kim Seung-hyun, later found himself in hot water. A leak of classified information during President Moon Jae-in's tenure led to his downfall. The Supreme Court handed him a jail sentence of one year with a two-year probation, which ousted him from his role. But just when you thought the plot couldn't thicken any further, current President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a truly magnanimous gesture, included Kim in a special pardon on Liberation Day, restoring his electoral rights. Talk about a plot twist!

And if you thought this was just about two district leader candidates, think again! This by-election is shaping up to be a face-off between current President Yoon Suk Yeol and former President Moon Jae-in. With Yoon backing Kim Tae-woo and Kim's opponent, Jin Kyohoon, having served as Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency during Moon's regime, the district election suddenly has more layers than a Korean pancake!

But wait, there's more! The Democratic Party's current leader, Lee Jae-myung, after a 24-day hunger strike, received a dismissal decision in a pre-trial detention warrant review, giving him a much-needed boost. This by-election is now being viewed as a referendum on that decision. On the other hand, President Yoon and his camp seem caught off-guard, like deer in the headlights.

Both parties, in a bid to secure victory, are parading their top-tier politicians to boost their respective candidates' campaigns. After all, who doesn't love a good old political spectacle?

In conclusion, while most of the world might think of district elections as mundane affairs, South Korea's Gangseo-gu begs to differ. Grab your popcorn, folks! This is going to be one entertaining showdown.