Mixed Results for Seven Former Blue House Aides... Woo Sangho Reclaims Gangwon, Kim Namjun and Jeon Eunsoo Enter National Assembly

Kim Namjun, Jeon Eunsoo, and Kim Namguk Win National Assembly Seats
Support for Lee Jaemyung Administration Expected
Defeats for Ha Jeongwoo in Busan Buk-gap and Kim Byungwook in Seongnam Reveal Limitations

Former Blue House aides from the first year of the Lee Jaemyung administration saw five out of seven candidates win in the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections. Woo Sang-ho, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, was elected Governor of Gangwon Province, while Son Hwa-jung, former administrator at the Office for National Integration, became the first mayor of Incheon Yeongjong District. In the parliamentary by-elections, former spokespersons Kim Namjun and Jeon Eunsoo, as well as Kim Namguk, former Secretary for Digital Communication with the People, secured seats in the National Assembly. However, Ha Jeongwoo, former Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning, lost to independent candidate Han Donghoon in Busan Buk-gap, and Kim Byungwook, former Secretary for Political Affairs, was defeated by incumbent candidate Shin Sangjin of the People Power Party in the Seongnam mayoral race.

Democratic Party candidate Woo Sang-ho, running for Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, is celebrating with Representative Heo Young, former Governor Choi Moon-soon, family, and supporters at the Democratic Party Gangwon Provincial Office in Chuncheon City after his victory was confirmed on June 4, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Candidate Woo Sang-ho defeated incumbent Governor Kim Jin-tae and returned control of Gangwon Province to the Democratic Party for the first time in four years. Gangwon has long been considered a conservative stronghold and was a key battleground in this local election. Woo's political weight, as a four-term lawmaker, former floor leader, and former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, is seen as having contributed to the victory in a closely contested race, particularly in connection with the "government stability" narrative.

In the Incheon Yeongjong District mayoral election, Son Hwa-jung secured the symbolic position as the district's inaugural mayor. Son won by a narrow margin of 349 votes over Kim Jeongheon, the People Power Party candidate. The newly established Yeongjong District faces numerous local challenges, including the airport economic zone, transportation networks, and medical and residential conditions.

In the parliamentary by-elections, three former Blue House aides were elected to the National Assembly. Kim Namjun won in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, President Lee's previous constituency, thereby inheriting its political significance. Jeon Eunsoo retained Chungnam Asan-eul, the previous constituency of Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, while Kim Namguk made a return to the Assembly by winning in Ansan-gap, Gyeonggi Province. These candidates are expected to serve as a political bridge between the Blue House and the National Assembly within the ruling party.

Democratic Party candidate Namjun Kim for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election is celebrating at his campaign office in Gyeyang District, Incheon, as his victory is seen as certain. June 4, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

Jeon Eunsoo, the Democratic Party of Korea's by-election winner for Asan, Chungnam, is receiving congratulations and greeting supporters at her campaign office on June 4, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the other hand, defeats in the Busan Buk-gap and Seongnam mayoral races highlighted the limitations of the Blue House-affiliated candidates. The by-election in Busan Buk-gap was held due to the resignation of Jeon Jae-soo, the Busan mayoral candidate, making it a constituency the ruling party needed to retain. However, candidate Ha Jeongwoo was unable to overcome the high name recognition of candidate Han Donghoon and the consolidation of conservative voters. Losing to an independent candidate in a three-way race has added significant pressure to the Democratic Party's expansion strategy in Busan.

The loss in the Seongnam mayoral race is also seen as a particularly painful result. Seongnam is a politically symbolic area, being President Lee's former political base and the starting point of his administrative accomplishments. Kim Byungwook, with his background as a former Secretary for Political Affairs and campaign to reclaim Seongnam, was unable to overcome the advantages of the incumbent mayor and the assessment of local issues. This outcome confirms the limitations of relying solely on presidential connections.

With five former Blue House aides winning their races, President Lee has secured crucial political allies needed for his second year in office. However, losses in the symbolic battlegrounds of Busan and Seongnam leave the challenge of further expanding his political base unresolved.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.