Progressives take over education superintendent election

Seoul education superintendent candidate Jung Geun-sik celebrates with supporters at his campaign office in Seoul's Jongno District after his victory was confirmed, Thursday. Yonhap

Progressive candidates dominated the education superintendent races, which were part of Wednesday's local elections, tilting the balance of power among the country's education chiefs decisively in their favor.

In Seoul, incumbent superintendent Jung Geun-sik secured his office again, along with other progressive incumbents in Incheon and Busan. Gyeonggi Province saw progressive candidate Ahn Min-seok swoop in to take the office. Progressives now hold 11 of 16 superintendent positions for the next four years.

Conservatives won races in five constituencies including Daegu, Sejong, Daejeon and the provinces of North Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong.

The outcome has tilted the country’s demography of education chiefs toward progressives, changing the landscape that was in balance between nine progressives and eight conservatives. The total constituency number this year was reduced by one as Gwangju Metropolitan City and South Jeolla Province merged.