[Sports Seoul | Story and photos by senior reporter Sangbae Lee] Lee Seong-heon, the People Power Party’s candidate for Seodaemun District mayor, completed his preliminary candidacy registration on May 8 and opened his campaign office on May 10, formally launching his campaign.
At the office opening, Lee said he will build on the achievements of the eighth-term administration to complete Seodaemun’s transformation and growth. He emphasized that he is a proven executor who delivers results and will remain a hands-on mayor.
In his remarks, Lee said Seodaemun had been stagnant after 12 years under Democratic Party mayors but has begun to move again. He said the past four years restored the district’s footing, and the next four should propel it to become one of Seoul’s leading cities. With experience and proven execution, he pledged to deliver tangible results residents can feel.
Lee highlighted key accomplishments of the eighth-term administration: a jump in the Seoul Survey happiness ranking from 23rd to 4th citywide; first place in livability satisfaction in Seoul for two consecutive years; first place in education-environment satisfaction in Seoul for two consecutive years; and an “intention to continue living in Seodaemun” rate exceeding 83%.
He noted that the intention-to-settle rate, which stood at about 58.8% in 2021, has climbed to over 83%—the highest level in Seoul—and said this reflects residents’ satisfaction with administrative changes. He stressed that raising residents’ pride and making Seodaemun a place everyone wants to live will remain core goals of his administration.
Lee also expressed strong resolve on redevelopment and urban development. He said 55 redevelopment sites are currently underway in Seodaemun and argued that speed is the key competitive advantage in redevelopment. “How quickly and strategically the administration acts affects residents’ property-rights protection and the city’s competitiveness,” he said.
Citing the Hongje Station area revitalization project around Inwang Market and Yujin Arcade as an example, Lee said the project moved from planning to designation of the project implementer in just 1 year and 9 months. He called it a clear example of what fast, responsible administration can achieve and pledged to minimize unnecessary administrative delays while carrying out resident-centered, swift, and fair redevelopment projects.
Lee’s campaign will operate as a “Residents’ Happiness Camp,” focused on resident participation and communication. The opening ceremony was hosted by Yoon So-young (63), a Hongje 1-dong resident and senior model, who drew attention.
Yoon, who has lived in Seodaemun for 25 years, said she had assumed political events were run only by professional hosts, but participating directly felt meaningful and rewarding. She called it especially significant that residents are helping shape the campaign.
Lee’s team said the campaign will center residents rather than politicians and will actively incorporate resident ideas and participation to pursue community-focused pledges and field-centered campaigning.
Lee appointed former lawmaker Shin Kyung-sik as campaign chair and will begin a series of local visits and resident outreach following the office opening. sangbae0302@sportsseoul.com
