Seongdong District head steps down to run for Seoul mayor
Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 17:49
![Chong Won-o, the head of Seongdong District, holds a farewell ceremony at the district's office on March 4. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/04/09185b70-42d1-4c02-9580-36c7784407b6.jpg)
Chong Won-o, the head of Seongdong District, holds a farewell ceremony at the district's office on March 4. [NEWS1]
The head of Seongdong District, Chong Won-o, stepped down from his post on Wednesday to join the race for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections.
Chong, who has officially declared his bid for Seoul mayor, held a retirement ceremony at the Seongdong District Office earlier in the day. He plans to register as a preliminary candidate on Thursday.
Chong will be competing with four other contenders in the ruling Democratic Party's primary for Seoul mayor: three-term lawmakers Rep. Park Ju-min and Jeon Hyeon-hui; two-term lawmaker Kim Young-bae; and Kim Hyoung-nam, the former secretary general of the Center for Military Human Rights Korea.
Under the country's election law, public officials must step down from their positions 90 days before an election to run in it.
Cho, who served 12 years as the district's chief, drew attention late last year when President Lee Jae Myung shared on the social media platform X a news report on a survey that showed 93 percent were satisfied with Chong's performance.
Lee praised Chong in the post, writing that he “must be doing a great job,” in a move widely seen as a show of support from the president.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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