Will Donghae’s Political Landscape Change? Lee Jeong-hak’s Historic Campaign Launch

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Lee Jeong-hak, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Donghae, held a \”One Team\” kickoff at his campaign office on the 28th, declaring the start of a full-scale effort to unseat entrenched local power. His former primary rivals, An Seung-ho and Lee Sang-woong, joined local party members and supporters, demonstrating strong unity and early momentum for the campaign.
 
The event carried significance well beyond a routine campaign stop. In a city long dominated by conservative politics, the Democratic Party framed this race as a bid for political turnover and presented an assertive strategy. Inside and outside the venue, supporters chanted \”Let’s change this time\” and \”Rebuild Donghae’s future,\” signaling a collective determination to pursue a new chapter.
 

On stage, co-campaign chair An Seung-ho said Donghae has, for 30 years, repeatedly failed to wrest local authority from the ruling party. \”This election is different,\” he said. \”Citizens’ demand for change is rising. Lee Jeong-hak will write a new chapter in Donghae’s history.\”
 
Co-campaign chair Lee Sang-woong expressed similar confidence, acknowledging the race will be challenging but insisting that unity makes victory possible. \”If we come together, there is nothing we cannot achieve,\” he said. \”The solidarity of Democratic Party members will be the driving force for change in Donghae.\”
 
Co-campaign chair Han Ho-yeon pointed to a broader wave of political change, noting that momentum that began in Daegu has moved through North Gyeongsang Province and reached Donghae. \”This election will be Donghae’s response to a changing era,\” he said.
 
At the center of the event, Lee Jeong-hak described the kickoff as a historic starting point for change in Donghae. He framed the moment not as a mere send-off, but as a turning point that will determine whether the city remains stagnant or moves forward. \”Donghae must become a city on the rise again, not a city that stands still,\” he declared.
 
Emphasizing reconciliation with his former rivals, Lee put the \”One Team\” spirit front and center. He said the heated debates in the primary reflected a shared commitment to improving Donghae and praised his opponents for their gracious concessions and dedication to the city’s development.
 
\”We are no longer competitors,\” he said. \”We are a united One Team working to secure a win for our citizens.\” He pledged to incorporate the policy ideas and visions presented by his former rivals into a comprehensive development strategy for Donghae.
 
Lee outlined a clear blueprint for the city’s future. \”Donghae can and will rise again,\” he said, promising to shift tourism from transient visits to longer stays and to build an economy that benefits residents, not just headline statistics.
 
He also called for structural renewal: transforming Donghae into a place where young people stay or return, where small-business owners prosper, and where raising children is supported and encouraged.
 
Framing the election as more than a contest for a single office, Lee argued it represents a choice that will shape Donghae’s future. \”This is not just an election to choose one person,\” he said. \”It is an opportunity for citizens to accomplish a political turnover that Donghae has not achieved in its 40-year history. We must change now, and we must deliver results now.\”
 
He also explained the symbolism of the blue rose he has adopted. Once a symbol of the impossible, the blue rose now stands for hope, dreams, and the future. \”I will turn the Democratic Party’s blue wave into a blue rose that brings hope to the people of Donghae,\” he said.
 
Candidates for provincial and city council who attended vowed a joint victory and rallied their forces. \”Divided, we return to the past; united, we make history,\” they shouted, pledging to secure victory for Donghae, the Democratic Party, and the city’s residents.
 
Applause and cheers filled the venue, and supporters spilled their enthusiasm into the street outside the campaign office. The energy suggested this race could become a pivotal moment, reshaping Donghae’s political landscape beyond a routine local contest.
 

Building on the kickoff, Lee is expected to intensify direct outreach to voters. Observers will watch whether the unified \”Donghae One Team,\” formed by former primary contenders, can convert early enthusiasm into sustained voter support.
 
Will this effort crack Donghae’s long-standing political order, or will the existing structure hold? The race toward the June 3 local elections in Donghae has entered a decisive phase.