# Seodaemun A

Seodaemun A (Korean: 서대문구 갑) is a constituency of the National Assembly of South Korea. The constituency consists of parts of Seodaemun District, Seoul. As of 2024, 130,042 eligible voters were registered in the constituency. The constituency was created in 1988 from the Seodaemun–Eunpyeong constituency.

## History

Throughout its history, Seodaemun A has elected members of both liberal and conservative parties to represent the constituency. Accordingly, Seodaemun A has historically been considered a bellwether constituency by political analysts. However, in recent elections the Democratic Party has been dominant with four consecutive wins in the constituency. Therefore, some analysts consider the constituency as becoming a stronghold for the Democratic Party.
Kang Seong-mo of the right-wing Democratic Justice Party was the first member to represent the constituency having won with 37.04% of the vote. Kang lost his bid for re-election and was succeeded by Kim Sang-hyun of the centre-left Democratic Party. Kim won re-election in 1996 but was not re-nominated ahead of the 2000 election. He was succeeded by Lee Sung-heon of the centre-right Grand National Party who won in a tight race against Woo Sang-ho of the Millennium Democratic Party. Lee Sung-heon and Woo Sang-ho would continue to face off in rematches in Seodaemun A as the mainstream conservative and liberal party candidates respectively until the 2020 South Korean legislative election.
In the 2004 South Korean legislative election, Woo Sang-ho of the Uri Party narrowly defeated incumbent Lee Sung-heon by a margin of 1,899 votes. However, in the following election held in 2008, Lee won the seat back by a wide margin and securing 51.64% of the vote. In the 2012 election, Woo won the seat back, securing 54.36% of the vote in a one-on-one battle against Lee Sung-heon. Woo won re-election in 2016 and 2020 with 54.88% and 53.24% of the vote respectively, defeating former assemblyman Lee Sung-heon in both matches.
Ahead of the 2024 South Korean legislative election, Woo Sang-ho announced that he would not be standing for re-election in Seodaemun A. After holding a party primary, the Democratic Party nominated lawyer Kim Dong-ah as the party's candidate for the constituency on March 11, 2024. Kim Dong-ah went on to win the general election with 50.75% of the vote, defeating Lee Yong-ho of the People Power Party.

## Boundaries

The constituency encompasses the neighborhoods of Hongje 1-dong, Hongje 2-dong, Bugahyeon-dong, Cheonyeon-dong, Chunghyeon-dong, Sinchon-dong, and Yeonhui-dong. It borders the constituencies of Seodaemun B to the north, Mapo B to the west, Mapo A to the south, Jung–Seongdong B and Jongno to the east.

## List of members of the National Assembly

| Election | Member | Party | Dates | Notes |
| 1988 | Kang Seong-mo | Democratic Justice | 1988–1992 | |
| 1992 | Kim Sang-hyun | Democratic | 1992–2000 | Left the Millennium Democratic Party and joined the Democratic People's Party on February 27, 2000 |
| 1996 | Kim Sang-hyun | National Congress | 1992–2000 | Left the Millennium Democratic Party and joined the Democratic People's Party on February 27, 2000 |
| 2000 | Lee Sung-heon | Grand National | 2000–2004 | |
| 2004 | Woo Sang-ho | Uri | 2004–2008 | |
| 2008 | Lee Sung-heon | Grand National | 2008–2012 | |
| 2012 | Woo Sang-ho | Democratic United | 2012–2024 | Floor leader of the Democratic Party (2016–2017) Interim leader of the Democratic Party (2022) |
| 2016 | Woo Sang-ho | Democratic | 2012–2024 | Floor leader of the Democratic Party (2016–2017) Interim leader of the Democratic Party (2022) |
| 2020 | Woo Sang-ho | Democratic | 2012–2024 | Floor leader of the Democratic Party (2016–2017) Interim leader of the Democratic Party (2022) |
| 2024 | Kim Dong-ah | Democratic | 2024–present | |

## Election results
### 2024

Legislative Election 2024: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Kim Dong-ah | 44,890 | 50.75 | 2.49 |
| | People Power | Lee Yong-ho | 38,466 | 43.49 | 1.85 |
| | New Reform | Lee Kyung-sun | 5,087 | 5.75 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,506 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 89,949 | 69.2 | 0.15 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 130,042 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2020

Legislative Election 2020: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Woo Sang-ho | 47,980 | 53.24 | 1.64 |
| | United Future | Lee Sung-heon | 37,522 | 41.64 | 1.37 |
| | Independent | Shin Ji-ye | 2,916 | 3.23 | new |
| | Minjung | Jeon Jin-hee | 1,026 | 1.13 | new |
| | National Revolutionary | Ko Sang-il | 331 | 0.36 | new |
| | Our Republican | Shin Min-ho | 330 | 0.36 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 991 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 91,096 | 69.05 | 6.83 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 131,930 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2016

Legislative Election 2016: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Woo Sang-ho | 42,972 | 54.88 | 0.52 |
| | Saenuri | Lee Sung-heon | 31,529 | 40.27 | 5.36 |
| | Green | Kim Young-jun | 2,206 | 2.81 | new |
| | Minjoo | Lee Jong-hwa | 1,586 | 2.02 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,138 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79,431 | 62.22 | 4.74 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 127,642 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2012

Legislative Election 2012: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic United | Woo Sang-ho | 40,481 | 54.36 | 10.87 |
| | Saenuri | Lee Sung-heon | 33,982 | 45.63 | 6.01 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 656 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,119 | 57.48 | 9.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 130,670 | | |
| | Democratic United gain from Saenuri | Democratic United gain from Saenuri | Swing | | |

### 2008

Legislative Election 2008: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Grand National | Lee Sung-heon | 33,463 | 51.64 | 7.83 |
| | United Democratic | Woo Sang-ho | 28,185 | 43.49 | new |
| | New Progressive | Chung Hyeon-jeong | 2,637 | 4.06 | new |
| | Family Party for Peace and Unity | Noh Hak-woo | 509 | 0.78 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 562 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,356 | 48.31 | 15.49 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 135,281 | | |
| | Grand National gain from United Democratic | Grand National gain from United Democratic | Swing | | |

### 2004

Legislative Election 2004: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Uri | Woo Sang-ho | 38,795 | 46.06 | new |
| | Grand National | Lee Sung-heon | 36,896 | 43.81 | 3.2 |
| | Millennium Democratic | Kim Young-ho | 3,893 | 4.62 | 40.54 |
| | Democratic Labor | Chung Hyeon-jeong | 3,721 | 4.41 | new |
| | United Liberal Democrats | Park Jong-won | 529 | 0.62 | 1.56 |
| | Independent | Koh Eun-seok | 384 | 0.45 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 649 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 133,030 | 63.80 | 8.18 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 133,030 | | |
| | Uri gain from Grand National | Uri gain from Grand National | Swing | | |

### 2000

Legislative Election 2000: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Grand National | Lee Sung-heon | 34,623 | 47.01 | 7.7 |
| | Millennium Democratic | Woo Sang-ho | 33,259 | 45.16 | new |
| | Democratic People's | Lee Dong-woo | 2,128 | 2.89 | new |
| | Youth Progressive | Park Se-jeung | 2,029 | 2.76 | new |
| | United Liberal Democrats | Lee Ui-dal | 1,604 | 2.18 | 5.05 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 630 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,273 | 55.62 | 4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 133,530 | | |
| | Grand National gain from Democratic People's | Grand National gain from Democratic People's | Swing | | |

### 1996

Legislative Election 1996: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Congress | Kim Sang-hyun | 29,979 | 40.10 | new |
| | New Korea | Lee Sung-heon | 29,388 | 39.31 | 1.11 |
| | Democratic | Park Kyung-san | 8,610 | 11.51 | new |
| | United Liberal Democrats | Lee Ui-dal | 5,407 | 7.23 | new |
| | Independent | Koh Eun-seok | 1,372 | 1.83 | – |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,052 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,808 | 59.62 | 10.83 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 127,154 | | |
| | National Congress hold | National Congress hold | Swing | | |

### 1992

Legislative Election 1992: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Kim Sang-hyun | 42,591 | 45.49 | new |
| | Democratic Liberal | Kang Seong-mo | 37,843 | 40.42 | new |
| | Unification National | Ryu Gap-jong | 13,178 | 14.07 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,177 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 94,789 | 70.45 | 0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 134,548 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Democratic Liberal | Democratic gain from Democratic Liberal | Swing | | |

### 1988

Legislative Election 1988: Seodaemun A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic Justice | Kang Seong-mo | 36,097 | 37.04 | – |
| | Reunification Democratic | Kim Sang-hyun | 30,598 | 31.39 | – |
| | Peace Democratic | Kim Hak-min | 23,054 | 23.65 | – |
| | New Democratic Republican | Shin Soon-won | 5,621 | 5.76 | – |
| | Our Justice | Oh Jae-kwan | 1,341 | 1.37 | – |
| | Independent | Koh Eun-seok | 736 | 0.75 | – |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 765 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 98,212 | 70.75 | – |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 138,825 | | |
| | Democratic Justice win (new seat) | Democratic Justice win (new seat) | Democratic Justice win (new seat) | Democratic Justice win (new seat) | Democratic Justice win (new seat) |