South Korean Election: Lee Soo-jin vs. Na Kyung-won in Rematch Battle for Dongjak District

South Korean Election: Return Match Expected Between Lee Soo-jin and Na Kyung-won in Dongjak District

Source: Dong-a Ilbo

Lee Soo-jin and Na Kyung-won, two prominent candidates, are expected to face off in a return match in the 22nd general election in Dongjak District. This matchup has garnered attention as it breaks a four-year gap between the two candidates. While the area has a high level of support for the Democratic Party, there is also the emergence of strong conservative figures. However, residents have expressed concerns about education and transportation infrastructure issues.

Residents Demand Attention to Flooding Issues

At a recent gathering in Sadang 1-dong, Dongjak District, voters voiced their dissatisfaction with the local politicians’ neglect of the area. One resident emphasized the frequent flood damage in the region during the summer and called for the political sphere to address this issue. They expressed frustration, stating that politicians like Lee Soo-jin and Na Kyung-won only appear during elections. Another resident expressed hope that at least the flooding damage in their area could be prevented.

Education and Transportation Infrastructure Problems

Another urgent issue raised by residents is the lack of adequate education and transportation infrastructure. A 40-year-old resident mentioned the overall shortage of educational facilities, particularly the low number of high schools in the area. Residents expressed disappointment with the frequent assignment of students to schools in other areas. Additionally, a resident in their 60s pointed out the severe congestion on the road from Isusa Intersection to Gwacheon, emphasizing the need for improvement.

Lee Soo-jin and Na Kyung-won: A Rematch

As the 22nd general election approaches, Lee Soo-jin from the Democratic Party and Na Kyung-won from the conservative camp are expected to face each other again in Dongjak District. Lee Soo-jin previously held a policy briefing session in her constituency in December last year, attended by Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, and Jang Kyung-tae, a central member of the party. Over 800 residents participated in the event. On the other hand, Na Kyung-won, a member of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, registered as a preliminary candidate on January 8th, indicating his intention to run in the upcoming election. While the final candidates will be determined through each party’s nomination process, a fierce competition between Na Kyung-won and Lee Soo-jin is expected in the local election.

Dongjak District: Complex Political Landscape

Historically, Dongjak District has been considered a stronghold of the Democratic Party. However, the voters in this area have not shown blind support for any specific party. In particular, conservative politicians such as Jeong Mong-joon and Na Kyung-won have gained significant support in this region. Jeong Mong-joon, a seven-term lawmaker, successfully moved his constituency from Ulsan Dong-gu to Seoul Dongjak-gu. In the 2014 Seoul mayoral by-election, Na Kyung-won defeated the then-candidate of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (now the Bareunmirae Party) by a margin of 929 votes and won the election. She secured the Dongjak District again in the 2016 20th general election. In the 2020 21st general election, there was a fierce competition between two female candidates in Dongjak District, one of whom exposed the corruption scandal known as the “judicial power manipulation.” Na Kyung-won won with 52.16% of the votes, surpassing the 45.04% obtained by the opposing candidate.

Diverse Political Preferences in Different Neighborhoods

Dongjak District is composed of various neighborhoods, each with different political preferences. In particular, Sadang 1-dong shows a high level of support for the Democratic Party. In the previous general election, Lee Soo-jin won with 57.66% of the votes, surpassing Na Kyung-won, who ran as a candidate for the Future Unified Party (now the People’s Party), with a difference of 18.47%. On the other hand, Heukseok-dong tends to lean towards conservative parties. In the previous general election, Na Kyung-won won with 52.25% of the votes, surpassing Lee Soo-jin, who obtained 44.97%. Heukseok-dong is known as a prominent residential area in Dongjak District, with luxury apartment complexes and detached houses densely concentrated. Recently, the development of “Heukseok New Town” has attracted many residents to newly built apartments. In 2021, the real estate market in this area saw transactions reaching up to 2.5 billion KRW. The head of a real estate agency in Heukseok-dong mentioned the influx of young people due to redevelopment and highlighted the possibility of such demographic changes influencing the election results.

Voters’ Decision Depends on Candidates’ Local Promises

According to on-site interviews, Dongjak District voters who expressed support for both the Democratic Party and the conservative camp stated that they would decide based on the candidates’ local promises. One resident emphasized the importance of resolving local issues and stated, “I am not interested in party affiliation. I will vote for a candidate who can solve our local problems.” With the support for both major parties hanging in the balance, the results of the April election are expected to be determined by the individual performances of the candidates.

Lee Soo-jin’s Achievements and Na Kyung-won’s Constituency Management

If Lee Soo-jin and Na Kyung-won face each other in the upcoming election, they are expected to highlight their strengths in terms of achievements and constituency management. Lee Soo-jin successfully completed the long-awaited project of establishing Heukseok High School, which had been a desire of Dongjak District residents. Heukseok-dong became an area without a high school after the relocation of Chung-Ang University Hospital. However, in June of last year, through the efforts of Lee Soo-jin, the Education Office and Dongjak District Office signed a cooperative agreement for the establishment of a public high school by March 2026. On the other hand, Na Kyung-won has shown strength in constituency management based on his experience as a four-term lawmaker. A resident of Sadang-dong praised Na Kyung-won for consistently attending local events and making efforts to communicate with residents. However, a resident of Heukseok-dong, who supports the Democratic Party and Lee Soo-jin, expressed some disappointment, stating that Na Kyung-won’s active involvement in central politics seemed to lack communication with local residents.