AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Cho Hyeon-mi
  • Incheon mayoral race: Voters weigh ties to ruling party vs policy continuity
    Incheon mayoral race: Voters weigh ties to ruling party vs policy continuity "Wouldn’t candidate Park Chan-dae, who is close to the president, be more helpful in resolving pending issues?" (office worker Kim, surname only) "For policy continuity, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok should win another term." (homemaker Cho Mi-ryeong) With the Incheon mayoral election approaching, voters in the city often called a microcosm of South Korea showed little sign of rallying behind a single party or candidate. The contest pits Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party against Yoo Jeong-bok of the People Power Party, drawing attention as a matchup between a key figure in the Lee Jae-myung administration and an incumbent seeking a third term. It is also the only race for a metropolitan mayor in the Seoul area framed as a contest between two local natives. At Incheon Bus Terminal in Gwangyo-dong, Michuhol-gu, taxi driver Byun Jang-su, 68, said he supports Yoo, adding he would vote for him "to keep the ruling party in check." A 53-year-old self-employed resident, who also described himself as Incheon-born, said the city tends to choose based on candidates and pledges rather than party or the administration in power. He said he plans to vote for Yoo, citing his experience and a high rate of delivering on promises. Old downtown areas including Michuhol-gu, Jung-gu and Dong-gu have larger elderly populations and have traditionally leaned conservative; Yoo won there in the 2022 local elections. Still, some voters signaled a shift. A 25-year-old job seeker in Jung-gu said he expects Park, a former floor leader of the ruling party, to communicate smoothly with the president and the National Assembly. A 58-year-old woman working near Sinpo International Market in Jung-gu said Yoo has done a good job but she will vote for Park, saying Park’s ties to President Lee would help address local issues. In newer districts such as Yeonsu-gu and Seo-gu, seen as decisive battlegrounds, opinions also split. Na Hyun-ju, a 48-year-old office worker in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, said Yoo’s performance has not been rated poorly, but some residents worry that if the mayor is from a different party than the administration, projects in Songdo such as the Incheon Tower and a tram could face difficulties. She said the mayoral race there has tilted toward the Democratic Party. In contrast, Cho Mi-ryeong, a 43-year-old homemaker in Lu1 City in Seo-gu, said new towns still have many unresolved issues, including daily infrastructure. She said the city needs a candidate who can steadily continue current policies rather than offer new pledges, and she plans to vote for Yoo. Centrists and unaffiliated voters appeared even more cautious. Cho Yoon-sun, a 70-year-old woman in Namdong-gu, sometimes called Incheon’s political hub, said she votes every time but has not decided yet. She said she will back the candidate whose pledges would help residents more. A man in his 70s met near Incheon City Hall also said he plans to vote but does not have a preferred candidate. Some younger voters said they may sit out the election, saying no candidate or pledge clearly addresses problems facing their generation, including difficulty finding jobs. Noh, a 29-year-old woman in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, said people her age and other young voters around her have long had little interest in elections and that she does not plan to vote in the local elections. Yoo, the incumbent mayor, is set to step down from the post on April 29 and formally announce his bid for a third term in front of City Hall. Park, a three-term lawmaker representing Incheon’s Yeonsu-gu Gap district who declared his candidacy on April 22, will also resign his parliamentary seat that day and begin campaigning in earnest. 2026-04-28 14:01:16
  • Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Launches Local Election Bid, Vows to Check Lee Jae-myung Government
    Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Launches Local Election Bid, Vows to Check Lee Jae-myung Government People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon stepped down from the mayor’s post on April 27 and began full-scale campaigning, seeking to close the polling gap with Democratic Party candidate Jung Won-oh. Oh carried out mayoral duties in the morning, then around lunchtime completed his preliminary candidate registration with the election commission. He then walked from Seoul City Hall to Bosingak in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, greeting residents along the way, and held a news conference in front of the bell pavilion to announce his candidacy. “I will protect Seoul and help get the country back on its feet,” Oh said. Referring to what he called moves by the government and ruling party to cancel the prosecution in the Daejang-dong case, he added that he would “set right this runaway behavior by the Lee Jae-myung government.” Oh also criticized the period under former Mayor Park Won-soon, saying housing supply stalled while support for government-aligned civic groups surged. He called Park’s tenure “10 years of darkness” and “a period of Seoul’s decline,” and said that during his past five years in office he laid the groundwork to supply 310,000 homes in Seoul by 2031. He also criticized what he described as “no-questions-asked” support totaling 1.0222 trillion won for such groups at the time, and said he would prevent Seoul from again becoming “prey” for organizations that present themselves as civic groups. Oh also addressed his decision to register about two weeks earlier than expected. The National Election Commission’s official candidate registration period is May 14-15. Oh said he decided to work harder because polls showed him “slightly behind” Jung, and said the early move reflected his determination to “protect Seoul” and stop what he called the Lee administration’s “runaway” actions. Asked about his strategy as he seeks a third consecutive term and a fifth term overall, Oh said elections are “not about strategy but about sincerity.” He said he would reach out to residents, communicate more and turn candid advice into policy. Oh said he would make the Lee government, which he said had begun to “run wild,” feel uneasy as it watches Seoul voters’ choice. He also appealed for support, saying Seoul residents had “raised” him into a “public asset of the Republic of Korea” through four elections. Oh opened his campaign office, called the “Jumping Up Camp,” in the Daewang Building near Bosingak. He said the name reflects his goal of helping Seoul “jump” into a “special city for quality of life.” In a Facebook post, Oh said “Jumping Up” carries a promise that if the past five years were about restoring the foundation, the next step is to “jump higher” with residents and unlock Seoul’s potential.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 15:16:54
  • Cha&Mom Phytocerin Outdoor Play Sun Stick Offers Gentle, Hygienic UV Protection
    Cha&Mom Phytocerin Outdoor Play Sun Stick Offers Gentle, Hygienic UV Protection Sunscreen is a staple in my bag. As the weather warms and outdoor reporting increases ahead of the June 3 local elections, choosing a product has felt more important — and I have become more careful about what I carry. The one I have been using is Cha&Mom’s ‘Phytocerin Outdoor Play Sun Stick,’ from Cha Bio F&C’s family skin-health brand. As the name suggests, it is a stick, so it goes on quickly without getting on your hands. That makes it easier to use hygienically outdoors, where washing up is not always an option. It glides on smoothly and, even with repeated applications, feels neither sticky nor heavy. It dries down to a soft, powdery finish. It also has a banana scent, which helps children use it without resistance. In summer, it does not take much movement to start sweating. The company says it applies an “Activeproof Solution” so UV protection lasts longer even with sweat or heavy activity. In my use, the dry finish held up relatively well while I moved quickly to follow election candidates, and after a child ran around for a long time. That can mean fewer touch-ups. The ingredients are also positioned as gentle. The product description says it uses zinc oxide, a non-nano mineral UV filter, to reduce skin burden, and that clinical testing found it nonirritating. The “Phytocerin” in the name is a proprietary ingredient developed by Cha Bio dermatological science specialists; the company says it helps soothe skin, strengthen the skin barrier and form a moisturizing layer. The white cast often associated with sunscreen was not especially noticeable, making it easy to swipe on without a mirror — including for children. With its simple, hygienic application and a formula intended for both kids and adults, Cha&Mom’s ‘Phytocerin Outdoor Play Sun Stick’ is likely to stay in my bag this summer. _Cha&Mom ‘Phytocerin Outdoor Play Sun Stick,’ 25 grams* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-25 14:03:18
  • Jung Won-oh Appears With Chung Cheong-rae and Yoo Si-min at Seongsu Store Opening
    Jung Won-oh Appears With Chung Cheong-rae and Yoo Si-min at Seongsu Store Opening Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh on April 24 appeared alongside prominent figures associated with the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in camps, underscoring his push for victory. Jung attended the opening event for the Seongsu branch of handmade shoe company Azio at Under Stand Avenue in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, with Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae and writer Yoo Si-min. Tak Hyun-min, described as a protocol secretary under the Moon Jae-in administration, was also present. Azio, a social cooperative, is a handmade shoe brand run by people with visual impairments and produced by people with hearing impairments. It gained attention as “the president’s shoes” after Moon wore them to the May 18 Democratic Uprising commemoration ceremony in 2016. President Lee Jae-myung also supported the company when he was mayor of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province. The event marked the first time Chung and Yoo appeared together since reconciling after two decades of political conflict. Yoo, an Azio cooperative member and promotional model, and Chung, who joined after finishing a party schedule in Incheon, exchanged deep bows in greeting. Chung also struck an upbeat tone with Jung, saying, “So many people had a hard time under Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and many people say we have to win.” Yoo joked about Jung’s campaign operation, telling him the “Jung Won-oh campaign is mammoth,” adding that “if you’re not a current or former lawmaker, you can’t even hand out a business card,” and quipping, “Is it OK for local government to be like this?” Jung, Chung, Yoo and Azio Chairman Yoo Seok-young then stood in front of shoes on display and chanted, “Azio, fighting.” Yoo drew laughter by raising his voice to say, “Not ‘Jung Won-oh, fighting’ — ‘Azio, fighting.’” After the Azio event, Jung moved to Geumnam Market in Geumho-dong to again ask Seongdong residents for support. Jung, who is from Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, served three terms as Seongdong district mayor.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 17:33:00
  • Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Warns of ‘Soft Dictatorship,’ Urges Voters to ‘Protect Seoul’
    Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Warns of ‘Soft Dictatorship,’ Urges Voters to ‘Protect Seoul’ People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon, the incumbent mayor, on Thursday urged voters to back him, saying it was important to “protect Seoul” to prevent what he called the possibility of “soft dictatorship” under the Lee Jae-myung government. In a TV Chosun YouTube interview that morning, Oh said that if the ruling party won a landslide in the local elections, it would become “like a runaway locomotive with no brakes.” Oh also warned that if the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral nominee, Jeong Won-oh, wins, Seoul’s economy and residents’ quality of life would decline. “I’m seeking a fifth term, and if I don’t win this time, Seoul’s upward international rankings and evaluations will be completely reversed,” Oh said, adding that he was running with a determination to hold the city. Oh cited an increase in Seoul’s debt during the tenure of former Mayor Park Won-soon, saying it rose from 3 trillion won to 10 trillion won, and argued the city’s finances would weaken again. He claimed that civic group figures who entered City Hall under Park funneled money to organizations they had belonged to, contributing to rising debt. Oh said many of those people are now positioned in Jeong’s campaign, and warned that a Jeong victory would recreate the pattern as “Park Won-soon Season 2.” Responding to Jeong’s criticism on a TV program the previous day that labeled Oh an “enlightenment leader” and “Yoon Suk Yeol Season 2,” Oh said, “I think he’s been a bit rattled, in today’s terms, because I defined him as Park Won-soon Season 2.” On the controversy over abolishing the long-term holding special deduction, Oh pressed Jeong to state a clear position after Jeong said it was undesirable to “stoke conflict and increase public anxiety.” “If Seoul apartments lose the long-term holding special deduction, people can lose hundreds of millions of won in taxes alone,” Oh said. “A mayoral candidate should clearly say whether they support or oppose such a serious issue.” Oh added that some view Jeong as likely to become “Lee Jae-myung’s yes-man,” and said Jeong’s response showed he could not escape that assessment. Oh also called on People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk to show restraint and make a decision. “Candidates working in the field believe it helps if Chairman Jang is less visible,” Oh said. “With the lowest approval ratings since the party’s founding, I think the time has come for restraint or a decision as leader.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 13:51:09
  • Choo Mi-ae Pledges ‘One-Team’ Support to Boost Gyeonggi Semiconductor Cluster
    Choo Mi-ae Pledges ‘One-Team’ Support to Boost Gyeonggi Semiconductor Cluster Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province, said April 24 she would work as a “one team” with the government and the ruling party to strengthen the global competitiveness of the region’s semiconductor cluster. Choo visited Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek campus, a Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) site for a national industrial complex in Yongin, and SK hynix’s Yongin industrial complex. Calling the Gyeonggi semiconductor cluster “a core task that will determine the future of the South Korean economy,” she said she would “complete the world’s best semiconductor cluster” with speed and drive. She added that if she wins the June local elections, “the president, governor, mayors and lawmakers will be a solid one team,” and said she would “take responsibility to the end and prove it with results.” Accompanying her were Democratic Party lawmakers Hong Ki-won and Kim Hyun-jung from Pyeongtaek, and Lee Sang-sik, Son Myung-soo, Boo Seung-chan and Lee Eon-ju from Yongin, along with Pyeongtaek mayoral candidate Choi Won-yong and Yongin mayoral candidate Hyun Geun-taek, among other party candidates. At Samsung’s Pyeongtaek campus, Choo described the so-called “Su-Yong-Seong-Pyeong-O-I” semiconductor belt — linking Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Seongnam, Anseong, Pyeongtaek, Osan and Icheon — as a key pillar of the nation’s industry, and said she would further strengthen it into a world-leading semiconductor cluster. She cited the Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML, which has manufacturing facilities in Dongtan, Hwaseong, and U.S. chip company Applied Materials, which plans to build a research and development center in Osan, underscoring her push to advance semiconductor technology centered on Pyeongtaek. At the SK hynix site in Yongin, Choo said South Korea needs a “mega-scale semiconductor ecosystem” combining private investment and public infrastructure, and said the Gyeonggi semiconductor cluster should be completed as a single, ultra-wide industrial belt. 2026-04-24 10:57:09
  • Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to Register as Preliminary Candidate April 27, Opens Jongno Campaign Office
    Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to Register as Preliminary Candidate April 27, Opens Jongno Campaign Office Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s candidate in the Seoul mayoral race, will register as a preliminary candidate on April 27 and move into full campaign mode for the June 3 nationwide local elections, his camp said. Oh’s side said the earlier-than-expected registration reflects his determination to “get into the community and run the ground campaign.” His campaign office will be set up in the Daewang Building in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Oh’s camp said Jongno “symbolizes the urgency of old downtown redevelopment,” adding that the location is meant to show his commitment to “first principles,” balanced urban development and revitalizing older districts, including Jongno. Oh, seeking a third consecutive term and a fifth term overall, plans to stress Seoul residents’ health and quality of life in the campaign, while drawing contrasts with Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate. He also plans to put added focus on youth policies, with young people participating in and leading the campaign. Oh’s camp said the eighth popularly elected city administration has focused on “walking with the vulnerable” and strengthening the city’s competitiveness, and that the campaign will emphasize a “special city of better health and a warmer quality of life.” It added that the campaign team will be run with a focus on youth policy. 2026-04-23 18:57:16
  • Han Dong-hoon Says He Will Not Leave Busan’s Buk District Ahead of By-Election Bid
    Han Dong-hoon Says He Will Not Leave Busan’s Buk District Ahead of By-Election Bid Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party who is running as an independent in the by-election in Busan’s Buk District A constituency, said on April 23 that he would “never leave” Buk District. In a handwritten message posted to social media, Han called Buk District “the start of my politics and my hometown,” and said he would show “Han Dong-hoon-style politics” there. “I have never left this place, and no one sent me here,” he wrote, adding that he would “laugh together and cry together” with Buk District residents. “I will grow with Buk District and protect it. I will never leave,” he wrote. “I will prove it with politics that keeps promises.” Han previously formalized his bid on April 14 by filing a change-of-address report to an apartment in Manduk 2-dong, Buk District. After completing the paperwork, he said he had decided to live for Busan residents and would begin and end his political career there. The Buk A seat is currently held by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo. A by-election is scheduled for June 3 after Jeon was chosen as the party’s candidate for Busan mayor. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 16:14:47
  • Democratic Party Candidates in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Pledge Border-Area Economic Push
    Democratic Party Candidates in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Pledge Border-Area Economic Push Candidates for metropolitan-level posts from South Korea’s Democratic Party in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon said they will coordinate efforts to revitalize the economy in border areas ahead of the June 3 nationwide local elections. Woo Sang-ho, the party’s candidate for Gangwon governor, Choo Mi-ae, the candidate for Gyeonggi governor, and Park Chan-dae, the candidate for Incheon mayor, signed an agreement at the National Assembly on April 23 titled “Agreement for New Change and Coexistence in Border Areas.” They said they will seek to rebrand the term “border areas” as a “peace zone for shared growth and prosperity,” and jointly explore institutional improvements aimed at strengthening residents’ rights and boosting local economies. The three also agreed to cooperate on policies to expand ecological and peace tourism in the Demilitarized Zone, and to energize a consultative body of regional leaders for the peace zone to support residents’ stable livelihoods. After the signing, Woo told reporters the phrase “border areas” was a customary label rather than a legal term. He said the candidates will take steps after the election to move away from negative images tied to security, division and isolation and toward a peace-oriented approach. They also said they will work together to secure support from the central government. Park said, “The most important foundation of the Republic of Korea is peace,” adding he will communicate and cooperate closely with the central government. Choo said the consultative body will work with the central government and ministries to ease regulations affecting the border areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 11:45:17
  • Busan, South Gyeongsang governors deny plan for separate election in southeast
    Busan, South Gyeongsang governors deny plan for separate election in southeast Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon rejected reports that incumbent governors from the ruling People Power Party in the southeastern region of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang planned to pursue a separate election effort, calling the claim untrue. He also dismissed reports that they were pushing the party not to field a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election after Han Dong-hoon declared he would run as an independent. In a statement issued Tuesday, Park said local leaders in the region had no plan to release any declaration about holding an independent election. He added that the governors had not discussed any request for the party to forgo nominating a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election. South Gyeongsang Gov. Park Wan-su also denied the report Tuesday, saying he had not held any discussions with the mayors of Busan and Ulsan about a statement related to an independent election. The People Power Party has nominated the incumbent mayors and governor in the region as its candidates for the nationwide local elections set for June 3. Earlier Tuesday, a media outlet reported that incumbent People Power Party leaders in the region were moving to issue a statement on running the June 3 local elections in an independent manner, and that it could include a call for the party not to nominate a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election. 2026-04-22 15:34:20