Personalities and Policies? Strong 'Networks' Still Hold Sway

With the June 2 by-election for Suwon mayor set to reshape the region's political landscape, local political circles widely analyze that outcomes will be determined by organizational struggles driven by school ties and regional connections, rather than by personality, party affiliation, or policy.

In last October's Jangan District by-election, the most recent contest, the district was perceived as a stronghold of the Grand National Party, yet ultimately the Democratic Party candidate with stronger local roots won. Despite the Grand National Party's Park Chan-suk winning higher name recognition and party support, she could not overcome Democratic Party candidate Lee Chan-yeol's reputation as a local native.

Local political circles predict similar scenarios will play out in this election. As falling voter turnout due to political apathy means organizational votes will ultimately determine the outcome, each candidate is mobilizing school alumni networks and concentrating efforts on consolidating and expanding organizational support as they launch their campaigns.

Most notably, a clear trend of alumni rallying around candidates' alma maters is evident. Suwon High School alone has three registered preliminary candidates—Kim Jong-hae, Kwon In-taek, and Lim Su-bok—competing for Grand National Party nomination. With incumbent three-term Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo also announcing his candidacy, four Suwon High alumni are vying for the party's endorsement. While support bases splinter along graduation cohorts, Suwon High alumni uniformly believe the situation will shift dramatically once nominations are decided.

Suseong High School alumni show equally keen determination to seize influence. News circulates that distinguished alumni have launched a "make-a-Suwon-mayor" campaign with unusual resolve. Currently Democratic Party candidate Yeom Tae-young is registered as a preliminary candidate, and Shim Jae-in, director of the Autonomous Administration Bureau, reportedly resigned from public office on the 3rd to run. One Suseong High alumnus expressed concern: "I hope we can avoid having two alumni face off as nominees from each party," worried about vote splitting among fellow alumni.

Meanwhile, Samil Commercial High School faces a dilemma with two alumni candidates running simultaneously. While Yang Chang-su and Lee Jung-hwa are registered as preliminary candidates and encouraged to compete without compromise, a subtle tension pervades as alumni wavering between camps are frequently observed.

By contrast, Lee Yun-hee, a Suwon Technical High graduate, appears unruffled. With no competing alumni rivals and a thick alumni network reflecting the school's long history, she appears organizationally ahead of other candidates.

Choi Kyou-jin, a Suwon Agricultural High graduate, also enjoys solid alumni support. While Shin Jang-yong is not from the region, he has long been active in Suwon and built diverse political foundations across government and business circles, leading some to believe he won't heavily rely on school ties—yet he appears to start a step behind other candidates.

While most Suwon mayoral candidates claim they are not bound by school and regional ties, reports indicate alumni of the candidates have joined campaigns as staff or volunteers in large numbers. One preliminary candidate emphasized: "Everyone living in Suwon is a Suwon citizen, and they become locals—alumni may support us behind the scenes, but I don't want to put that in the spotlight."