Seodaemun’s Choice: Kim Hong-guk vs. Lee Sung-heon – Who Will Lead the Renaissance?

Seodaemun mayoral primary candidate Kim Hong-guk issued a final appeal on April 10, two days before the Democratic Party’s preliminary, saying Seodaemun stands at a critical crossroads: voters must choose whether to continue four stagnant years or begin a new four-year period of change and progress. He made an earnest plea for support.

In a “Final Appeal to Seodaemun Voters,” Kim asked residents to back his vision of “successful politics” and a Seodaemun Renaissance, which he says he will pursue as district mayor alongside President Lee Jae-myung and Seoul Mayor Jeong Won-oh.

The Democratic Party’s Seodaemun mayoral primary will be held April 12–13, with party members’ votes accounting for 50% and public opinion polls the other 50%.

Kim, who served as a spokesman for Lee when Lee was governor of Gyeonggi Province, urged voters to hold People Power’s Seodaemun district head Lee Seong-heon accountable for what he called tyrannical rule and to restore normalcy to Seodaemun. He emphasized his extensive connections to the Blue House, central ministries, political parties, Seoul City and Gyeonggi Province, arguing that his combined national and local experience makes him the right candidate to lead those efforts.

He warned that redevelopment in Seodaemun has stalled, the Sinchon commercial district has declined, and young people are leaving. Parking, traffic and everyday inconveniences have accumulated. He said his diligence, integrity, competence and practical experience will produce results and solve these problems.

Kim pledged to accelerate redevelopment and revive Sinchon, restoring it as Seoul’s premier central commercial district where youth, culture and commerce thrive. He proposed a 48-hour complaint-response system to eliminate the complaint that “administration is slow” in Seodaemun. “A district mayor is not here to explain; the mayor is here to deliver results,” he said, and vowed to implement his 10 major pledges, mid- to long-term growth strategies, small quality-of-life initiatives, and creative specialization policies one by one.