Geomdan, South Korea – February 3, 2026 – Cheon Seong-ju officially launched his campaign for the first mayor of the newly created Geomdan-gu today, promising a fresh start for residents and a commitment to addressing key issues like traffic congestion and overcrowded schools. The former policy director aims to position Geomdan as a vibrant new center within Incheon, not simply a distant suburb.
A Veteran Administrator Enters the Race
Cheon Seong-ju pledges to leverage extensive experience in both local and national politics to deliver tangible improvements for Geomdan residents.
- Candidate Cheon Seong-ju prioritizes resolving Geomdan’s traffic problems to ensure residents have more quality time at home.
- He plans to immediately address overcrowded classrooms through collaboration with the Incheon Office of Education.
- Revitalizing the local economy through increased support for small businesses and youth is a central pledge.
- Cheon Seong-ju emphasizes a commitment to resident-led governance and decentralization.
Cheon Seong-ju, who served as the policy director for National Assembly member for Seo-gu Byeong District, Mo Kyung-jong, declared his candidacy with a pledge to usher in “a new era of Geomdan based on my prepared experience and capabilities.” He highlighted a strong working relationship with Assembly member Mo, stating, “As the head of policy for the Seo Gu-byeong district assemblyman, I worked day and night to secure the budget for the establishment of Geomdan-gu, prepare legislation and secure a quota of 845 civil servants to provide administrative services.”
What is the biggest challenge facing Geomdan residents? According to Cheon Seong-ju, it’s ensuring a better quality of life through practical solutions to everyday problems, starting with easing the daily commute.
From Local Council to National Campaigns
Cheon Seong-ju’s career spans local administration and central politics. He began as a Seo-gu council member and subsequently served as a special advisor to Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun for external cooperation. He also held positions as a member of the public communication committee of the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development, a special advisor to a party leader, Vice President of Accounts for Songdo Development PMC, and the Incheon City campaign manager for presidential candidate Lee Jae-myeong. “I have a network and work mind that encompasses local administration and central politics,” he asserted, positioning himself as a “practical leader who will be responsible for the happiness of Geomdan residents’ lives.”
Three Pillars of a New Geomdan
Candidate Cheon Seong-ju outlined three core pledges to transform Geomdan into “a new central city, not the outskirts of Incheon.” His first priority is tackling traffic congestion, aiming to shorten commuting times and allow residents to enjoy “a life with dinner.” He also pledged immediate action to address overcrowded classrooms by initiating a preliminary survey of education demand with the Incheon Office of Education. Finally, he proposed revitalizing the local economy by significantly increasing the limit for Incheon Regional Currency and fostering an ecosystem for small business and youth growth through support for local merchant associations.
Resident Sovereignty and Decentralization
Cheon Seong-ju emphasized the importance of self-governance and decentralization, stating, “We will open an era of resident sovereignty in which residents themselves decide local affairs.” He expressed his commitment to leveraging his administrative expertise to secure central budget support for Geomdan-gu’s initial development. “The future of Geomdan will not be shaken until the first step of Geomdan-gu is properly put in place,” he stated, appealing for support to build “a district administration that can be felt in the lives of residents and a district administration that builds pride in Geomdan.”
Cheon Seong-ju’s Key Background:
- Currently Director of Policy for National Assembly member for Seo-gu Byeong District
- Currently Special advisor to the representative of the Democratic Party of Korea
- Master of Public Administration from Inha University Graduate School of Public Policy
- Former Incheon Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council member
- Former Special Advisor for External Cooperation to Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Park Nam-chun
- Former Vice President of Accounts for Songdo Development PMC
- Former National Communication Committee Member of the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development
- Former Incheon City Campaign Manager for the 20th Presidential Election Candidate Lee Jae-myeong
