Since the first local elections in 1995, all 17 metropolitan and provincial chiefs have been Namsung. In the upcoming June 3 local elections, six female candidates from both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have thrown their hats into the ring. In particular, some say the chances of the first female metropolitan chief being elected are higher in this race than ever before.
According to the political sphere on the 16th, the primary matchups for metropolitan chiefs in the two major parties, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, have largely taken shape. There are quite a few candidates running as women for metropolitan chief.
In Seoul, lawmaker Chun Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party and former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook declared their runs as women. Chun, whose district is Jung–Seongdong Gap and Eul in Seoul, has been unveiling campaign pledges daily and appears set to see the party primary for Seoul mayor through to the end. Yoon has also been sending out messages daily through her campaign office and Facebook. The two trail leading contenders in the parties, such as Chong Won-o and Oh Se-hoon, in support, but they are raising their profiles again through this local election.
In Gyeonggi Province as well, both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have female candidates in the race. From the Democratic Party, six-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, who served as Minister of the Ministry of Justice, has declared her candidacy. Choo is emphasizing "decisive leadership" and is determined to break through the party primary. In public opinion polls of the general public, incumbent Gov. Kim Dong-yeon is ahead, but the main party primary reflects 50% of party member votes, so assessments say Choo, a six-term lawmaker with strong support among members, has an advantage.
From the People Power Party, Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja has stepped forward. It is a two-way race with Ham Jin-gyu, former president of the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), and it has not been decided whether to hold a two-person primary or make a single nomination. Inside and outside the party, some say Yang, a specialist in semiconductors, the biggest issue in Gyeonggi Province, appears to have the edge.
If Choo Mi-ae of the Democratic Party and Yang Hyang-ja of the People Power Party each make the general election ballot, the first female metropolitan chief in 31 years would become a reality. Whoever wins, a woman would be elected.
A significant number of people already agree on the need for a female metropolitan chief. In a report released early this year by the Korea Women's Development Institute (KWDI), "Challenges by female politicians in metropolitan chief elections and ways to improve entry barriers," 77.6% of all respondents said "a female metropolitan chief is necessary." In Korean politics, women account for 20% of the National Assembly, 19.8% of metropolitan councils, 33.4% of basic-level councils, and 3.1% of basic-level chiefs, but the share is "zero" only for metropolitan chiefs.
Lee Jin-sook, former chair of the Korea Communications Commission, running for Daegu mayor, and Lim Lee-ja, a People Power Party lawmaker running for North Gyeongsang governor, are also female candidates in this election. As these are strongholds for the People Power Party, their chances of winning are high if they can just clear the party primaries.
A political insider said, "Looking at the Gyeonggi governor's race featuring Choo Mi-ae and Yang Hyang-ja, as well as other female candidates running for metropolitan chief this time, they appear more competitive than in the past and seem to have a fair shot at winning," adding, "If they make the general election, they are likely to roll out woman-tailored care pledges and court female voters."