Cheongju Mayoral Race 2026: Why Seongwoo Seo Claims He’s the Clean Candidate to Beat!

The Public — Oh Hong-ji, Reporter: Seo Seung-woo, the People Power Party’s candidate for Cheongju mayor, issued his first formal statement after advancing to the main primary, pledging to win while emphasizing his “proven administrative experience” and that he is “a clean candidate with no legal risks.”

At a press conference in the Cheongju City Hall briefing room on the 21st, Seo said, “I will answer with victory, remaining steadfast through any trial.” He added, “With more than 30 years of administrative experience at both the national and local levels, I will accurately diagnose Cheongju’s problems and address them decisively.”

He thanked citizens and party members for giving him another chance after the pain of the previous primary reversal, calling the upcoming main primary “a crucial turning point for Cheongju’s future.”

Seo said the Chungbuk Provincial Party’s main-primary debate will evaluate candidates’ policies and vision. “Through a transparent, constructive debate, I will clearly present the crises Cheongju faces and practical solutions for its future,” he said.

He also thanked his former primary rival Lee Uk-hee for competing in good faith and offered words of consolation, saying he intends to “bring this contest to a dignified close.”

He reiterated that, as a prepared candidate free of judicial risk and with a strong sense of responsibility, he will defeat the Democratic Party and deliver a tangible “bigger Cheongju” that residents will feel.