Defeated candidate Ha Jung-woo returns to market, vows to fulfill promises

Ha Jung-woo, who recently lost the by-election for the National Assembly seat in Busan's Buk-gu constituency to independent candidate Han Dong-hoon, has returned to Gupo Market to reconnect with his constituents. Ha, formerly a senior secretary for Presidential AI Future Planning, stated on Facebook that his steps naturally led him back to the market.

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My steps naturally lead me back to Gupo Market.

He described walking through the market, greeting vendors, and listening to their concerns. Ha noted that the merchants' hands, their words of apology for the election outcome, and their requests for help with daily issues revealed the unspoken sentiments of the community. He emphasized that these feelings remain deeply rooted in the alleys of Buk-gu.

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Hearing the merchants' hands, 'We're sorry this time, but please keep challenging us,' and 'Can you do something about this?' as they cautiously bring up daily issues, I learn that the feelings not fully captured by votes still remain in these alleys.

Ha Jung-woo pledged to continue his efforts for the development of Buk-gu, stating that he would approach the residents with a notebook, ready to address the many issues they shared. During his campaign, he had promised to fulfill these commitments, and his return to the market signifies his dedication to those pledges.

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I am still, always, stepping out with a notebook to meet the residents who welcome me as the son of Buk-gu.

Despite his electoral defeat, where he lost by 1,392 votes, Ha Jung-woo remains committed to serving the area. He previously stated his intention to do everything possible for Buk-gu's development and expressed optimism about future opportunities, suggesting that "less than 2 years remain until the next general election. We just need to not break."

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Today, the election ends like this, but I will do everything I can for the development of my hometown, Buk-gu. I will strive to keep the many promises I made to the residents, which I wrote down in my notebook, to the best of my ability.