Will AI Expert Ha Jung-woo Enter Politics? Insights from Democratic Party Leader Jeong Cheong-rae

Hong Seo-hyun | 2026.04.28

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Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae speaking[Provided by Yonhap News][Provided by Yonhap News]

Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae said he met Ha Jung-woo, the Blue House senior secretary for AI future planning, and urged him to run in the by-election for Busan’s Buk-gu Gap parliamentary seat. “I may be able to bring good news,” Jeong said. At an on-site supreme council meeting in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on the 27th, Jeong said he had dinner with Secretary Ha in Seoul the previous evening for about two hours. He recounted his pitch: “Isn’t Secretary Ha the architect of South Korea’s drive to become one of the world’s top three AI powers? Now we must complete that plan by turning it into law in the National Assembly. You are the ideal, AI-tailored candidate.” Jeong also praised Ha’s local ties, noting Ha is six years younger than candidate Jeon Jae-su at Gudeok High School, attended elementary through high school there, and is a native — “a true Busan man,” he said — making him well suited to succeed and build on Jeon’s constituency. Jeong added that Ha told him he would “go home and think about it,” and likely spent the night weighing the decision. Jeong said he expects to be able to announce good news soon, suggesting Ha’s decision to run may be imminent. #DemocraticParty #JeongCheong-rae #HaJung-woo #ByElection Yonhap News TV — Story tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23 Hong Seo-hyun (hsseo@yna.co.kr)