Seoul: A former chief of the Seongdong district in Seoul, Chong Won-o, on Monday declared his official bid for the mayor of the nation's capital city in the upcoming June 3 local elections. Chong of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) stepped down last week to join the mayoral race after serving 12 years as the district's chief.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chong emphasized the need for a mayor who can effectively collaborate with the Lee Jae Myung administration, suggesting that a strong partnership between the capital's mayor and the president is crucial. In a video released on his YouTube channel, Chong stated, "Seoul needs a mayor who works well with the Lee Jae Myung administration, and a good president needs a good mayor by his side."
Chong gained attention late last year when President Lee Jae Myung shared a survey on social media platform X, highlighting that 93 percent of respondents were satisfied with Chong's performance. Lee's post was interpreted as a significant endorsement for Chong, as it included a remark that Chong "must be doing a great job."
In the Democratic Party's primary for Seoul mayor, Chong will face competition from four other contenders: three-term lawmakers Park Ju-min and Jeon Hyeon-hui, two-term lawmaker Kim Young-bae, and Kim Hyoung-nam, former secretary general of the Center for Military Human Rights Korea.
In his campaign video, Chong highlighted his administrative skills and practical experience, describing himself as "the winning card" capable of ending the tenure of current Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Oh, who has served four terms since first taking office in 2006, did not apply for the candidacy of the main opposition People Power Party for the June local elections by the March 8 deadline, as confirmed by his aides.
Oh has been advocating for a change in the party's direction, urging the leadership to distance itself from former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon is currently facing trial over insurrection charges related to his attempted martial law bid in December 2024.