Seoul Mayoral Race Is All About Change

Kang Kum-sil, a potential Seoul mayor candidate of the ruling Uri Party and former minister of justice, has changed her manner of speech. She talks more confidently and uses stronger words more often.

On April 28 she launched her mayoral campaign in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. She demonstrated her determination by saying, “No matter what it takes, I will do my utmost to lay the foundation on which reform-minded politicians can win.” She no longer ends her sentences with feminine endings to match her renewed confidence and strength.

She even dresses differently. Instead of wearing skirts, she prefers black pants. Long purple scarves that used to hang loosely around her neck gave way to short purple handkerchiefs.

As the approval-rating gap between her and Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the Grand National Party (GNP), is widening, she must be under pressure for change.

In fact, Kang is not the only one who is pursuing change. Oh is also striving to shed his image as someone from the wealthy Gangnam area.

On April 26, the day of his nomination, he told reporters, “I am considering Gangbuk as my election campaign headquarters. It will be a symbolic act.” He is even planning a campaign trip called the “Gangbuk Tour.”

These plans can be interpreted as efforts to break away from his image as a wealthy lawyer from Gangnam and win the hearts of voters from the working class. In the 16th National Assembly, Oh was one of the lawmakers who represented Gangnam.

Meanwhile, Lee Gye-ahn, another potential Seoul mayor candidate of the Uri Party, is busy recruiting more support for his come-from-behind, last minute victory over Kang. On April 28, Lee argued for an alternative to Kang Kum-sil in the upcoming mayor election using a parallel between the current situation and a game of scissors-rock kerchief.

“The GNP changed its mind from ‘paper’ [Maeng Hyung-gyu and Hong Joon-pyo] to ‘rock’ [Oh Se-hoon], after figuring out that the Uri Party would show ‘scissors’ [Kang Kum-sil]. Though the Uri Party pretended it would show scissors, a logical way for the Uri Party to follow is a shift to ‘paper’ [Lee Gye-ahn himself],” he explained.

jin0619@donga.com