Rival parties celebrate by-election victories in traditional strongholds

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Rival parties celebrate by-election victories in traditional strongholds

Published: 17 Oct. 2024, 17:32

CHO JUNG-WOO
cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Jung Geun-sik, the newly elected superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, speaks during his inaugural ceremony at the education office in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Rival parties claimed victories in their traditional strongholds in Wednesday's by-elections, the first gauge of public sentiment since the April general election.

The unified liberal candidate Jung Geun-sik won the race for superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, extending the liberal hold on the position for a fourth consecutive term.

Jung defeated his conservative rival, Cho Jun-hyuk, by 4.15 percentage points, securing 50.17 percent of the vote. This surpasses the 38.1 percent his predecessor, Cho Hee-yeon, received in the 2022 local election.

Seoul’s new education superintendent, an honorary professor of sociology at Seoul National University, promised on Thursday to reform the city’s education system to instill hope in all.

"I will work to turn the concerns and worries about education into views of expectation and hope,” Jung said during his inauguration ceremony at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in central Seoul.

He further pledged to “ensure that students can develop future skills" and "carefully address any discrimination or gaps caused by education.”

Jung Geun-sik, right, receives flowers from officials at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education as he arrives for his first day as the city's new education superintendent on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Jung, 67, also vowed to visit schools weekly to foster closer communication with teachers and students. He promised to implement initiatives to overcome educational disparities, improve fact-based history education, enhance digital sex crime education and improve teachers’ working conditions.

As his first official act, Jung said he would approve plans to establish centers to support students with learning difficulties and borderline intellectual functioning.

According to the National Election Commission, voter turnout for the by-election for Seoul's education superintendent was 23.5 percent, with 1.95 million out of 8.32 million eligible voters casting ballots. This was the lowest turnout since 2008, when the direct election system for the position was first introduced, which saw a turnout of 15.4 percent.

Acknowledging the low voter participation, Jung said he plans to boost interest in education among Seoul residents through extensive communication efforts.

The by-election for the city’s new education superintendent followed the dismissal of former liberal superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who was removed from his position in August after receiving a suspended one-year-and-six-month prison sentence for abusing his authority in special recruitment procedures for former teachers. Cho had served as the city's education chief for three consecutive terms since 2014.

Jung will complete Cho’s term, serving from Thursday until June 30, 2026.

People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, right, speaks during a Tuesday rally in Busan for Yoon Il-hyun, left, who won the by-election for Busan's Geumjeong District. [YONHAP]

In four other by-election races, candidates from the conservative People Power Party (PPP) won for the chiefs of their traditional strongholds in Busan’s Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County.

In Busan, PPP candidate Yoon Il-hyun secured 61.03 percent of the vote, defeating liberal Democratic Party (DP) candidate Kim Kyung-ji by 22 percentage points. In Incheon, PPP candidate Park Yong-cheol garnered 50.97 percent of the vote, defeating DP’s Han Yeon-hee, who received 42.12 percent.

In the left-leaning South Jeolla region, DP candidates claimed victories. The DP’s Chang Sae-il won in Yeonggwang County with 41.08 percent of the vote, while DP candidate Cho Sang-rae secured victory in Gokseong County with 55.26 percent.

With the by-elections resulting in a split between the rival parties, DP leader Lee Jae-myung congratulated his counterpart Han Dong-hoon for the PPP’s victories in Busan’s Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County.

“I hope the conservatives and the government will reform and fully understand the public’s thoughts through this election and implement good policies," Lee said to reporters after attending a forum in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Thursday, adding that his party would also do its best to respond to the public's choices.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, left, speaks during a rally on Oct. 10 for Chang Sae-il, who won the race for Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla. [YONHAP]

PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon expressed gratitude to the voters who supported the party’s candidates, acknowledging the election results as a “precious opportunity to serve the country.”

Speaking at a supreme council meeting on Thursday morning, Han said he was "cautious of the public sentiment" and promised to bring "change and renewal.”

The presidential office on Thursday said it would "address deficiencies by heeding the public’s will" regarding the by-election results.

“Despite the challenges, we will push forward without wavering on the four major reforms and measures to overcome low birthrates," a presidential official said in a press statement, referring to its efforts toward pension, medical care, education and labor reforms.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]