Why is DPK eager to recruit presidential AI secretary for local elections?

Ha Jung-woo, senior secretary to the president for artificial intelligence and future planning, attends a meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council at Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Ha Jung-woo, a former IT expert with no experience in politics who is now presidential senior secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) and future planning, had not been widely mentioned as a potential election candidate until several weeks ago.

Now, however, he is one of the most sought-after figures, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called for him to run in a parliamentary by-election, even though President Lee Jae Myung himself said Ha still has a lot to do at Cheong Wa Dae.

Whether he runs in the race or not, one thing is certain: His capacity is recognized in both administrative and political circles.

He joined the current administration in June last year, when Lee created the new senior presidential secretary post dedicated to AI policy. Just before being appointed to the post, he was the head of the AI Innovation Center at Naver, the nation’s largest web portal operator and one of the country's leading tech companies.

Many wondered what the new post was about and whether an IT specialist from the private sector could perform administrative affairs effectively. However, Ha, 48, made headlines for his expertise in leading the government’s IT agenda, including developing Korea's sovereign AI, with the goal of placing Korea among the world’s top three AI powers.

After 10 months in the role, Ha has emerged as one of the president’s most trusted secretaries, earning a reputation for his capability — with Lee even dubbing him "HaGPT" in a nod to ChatGPT.

He was expected to continue serving as the presidential senior secretary as long as there was work for him to do.

However, the DPK, seeking to portray an image of young and capable politicians, has openly wooed Ha to run in the by-election that will take place on June 3 alongside local elections.

DPK leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae has said the party needs Ha, a native of the southeastern port city of Busan, to run for the seat in Busan’s Buk District A, which will be left open as the constituency's current lawmaker, Rep. Chun Jae-soo, is running in the city's mayoral race.

During a nationally televised meeting on Thursday, Lee said to Ha, “It seems somebody is working on recruiting you … Do not fall for sugarcoated words.”

Ha replied to the president, “I will focus on what I should do.”

He also said during a radio show Friday, “The president gave me the clear guideline yesterday; he asked me to work. Now I have to work hard.”

However, even after Lee's remarks, Jung again pressed for Ha's candidacy, saying that the president himself emphasized Ha’s capability and that he would be essential to the party winning the seat.

Despite the president's intention to keep Ha at his side, the DPK's calls are unlikely to subside. If Ha decides to run, the law says he must quit his current post by May 4.

“There are no strong candidates for the district to replace Rep. Chun, except for Ha. The DPK has a lot on its mind,” political commentator Lee Dong-hyung said during a radio show Friday.

“Ha's joining the election race would be good for the DPK, but it seems the president heavily relies on Ha,” former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo, who is running for the governorship again, said during another radio show Friday.