First Democratic Mayor of Gangneung in 31 Years: Who Is the Idol Star Son Who Stayed by His Father’s Side on Election Night Saying, "Dad, I Love You"?

First Progressive Mayor in 31 Years
A Shift in Gangneung’s Political Landscape

With Kim Jungnam of the Democratic Party winning the Gangneung mayoral race in the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, attention is also being drawn to his son, the singer Fromtwenty (real name Kim Raehwan). According to the ballot count released on June 4, Kim Jungnam secured victory in the Gangneung mayoral election, becoming the first Democratic Party candidate to be elected as Gangneung mayor. He is the first progressive camp mayor in Gangneung in 31 years since the 1995 local elections.

Fromtwenty actively supported his father during this election process as well. Last month, he shared content titled "Campaign footage of the youngest son of the Gangneung mayor candidate" on his social media, revealing scenes from the campaign. Fromtwenty SNS

According to the National Election Commission's election statistics system, as of 3:15 a.m. on this day, with 93.77% of the votes counted, Kim had secured 55,347 votes, achieving a vote share of 51.76% and confirming his election. Kim Hongkyu, the candidate from the People Power Party, received 44,869 votes (41.96%), while independent candidate Kim Donggi obtained 6,704 votes (6.27%).

Gangneung has traditionally been considered a region with strong conservative tendencies. As a result, the victory of a Democratic Party-affiliated candidate is seen as a sign of significant changes in the region's political landscape. In this election, candidates from each party and independents engaged in fierce competition from the outset, making for a close race; however, Kim Jungnam gained the upper hand with his campaign theme of "Change in Gangneung."

Democratic Party candidate Kim Jungnam (center), Gangneung mayor candidate, and preliminary candidates Kim Hangun (far right) and Kim Hyunsu, who participated in the primary election. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

During the campaign, Kim Jungnam pledged to attract data centers, establish a high-tech industrial belt, and build a megacity in the Yeongdong region as his major policy commitments. Once his victory became certain, he stated, "I bow my head in gratitude to the citizens of Gangneung who supported me even in difficult circumstances," and added, "Together with the citizens, I will build a Gangneung where the people are the true owners, a Gangneung that brings its youth back, and a Gangneung that rises as the center of the East Coast."

Alongside Kim Jungnam's victory, his son Fromtwenty also attracted attention. Fromtwenty stayed by his father's side at the campaign office as the ballot counting unfolded, sharing the moment of victory together. The two held hands and posed for commemorative photos to celebrate the occasion. Fromtwenty debuted in 2012 as a member of the idol group BIGSTAR and has been working as a singer-songwriter since the group's disbandment, participating in songwriting, composing, and producing to develop his musical capabilities.

He actively supported his father throughout this election as well. Last month, he shared content titled "Campaign footage of the youngest son of the Gangneung mayor candidate" on his social media, revealing scenes from the campaign. He also posted a photo of himself wearing a shirt with campaign slogans alongside Kim Jungnam with the caption, "Dad, I love you." Although some online users left malicious comments during the campaign, Fromtwenty continued to publicly cheer for his father. He also drew attention for dyeing his hair black ahead of the campaign, having previously maintained yellow hair since last year.

Meanwhile, Kim Jungnam, a former Gangneung City Hall official, was elected mayor after serving as chairman of the National Public Officials Union and working as a civic activist. He said, "I am grateful to the campaign workers who ran with me from morning to night, the citizens who supported me, and my family who silently stood by me," adding, "I will make sure to prove that your choice was not wrong."

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