# Dobong A

Dobong A (Korean: 도봉구 갑) is a constituency of the National Assembly of South Korea. The constituency consists of parts of Dobong District, Seoul. As of 2024, 136,836 eligible voters were registered in the constituency. The constituency was created in 1988 from the Dobong constituency.

## History

Since its establishment, Dobong A has more often voted for centre-left, liberal parties to represent the constituency and is thus considered a stronghold for the Democratic Party.
Shin Oh-chul of the right-wing New Democratic Republican Party was the first member to represent the constituency, having won with only 33.27% of the vote. Shin unsuccessfully ran for re-election and was succeeded Yoo Ihn-tae of the centre-left Democratic Party. In the following election held in 1996, Kim Geun-tae of the centrist liberal National Congress for New Politics won the seat with 38.85% of the vote, narrowly beating out Yang Kyung-ja of the centre-right Grand National Party. Kim won re-election in 2000 and 2004 and went on to serve as Minister of Health and Welfare under President Roh Moo-hyun. Kim narrowly lost re-election in 2008 to Shin Ji-ho of the Grand National Party. Shin was not re-nominated for the 2012 election, after losing to Yoo Kyung-hee in the Saenuri Party's primary for the constituency. In the general election, Yoo Kyung-hee faced In Jae-keun, the spouse of former representative Kim Geun-tae who had passed away in 2011. In Jae-keun emerged victorious, securing 58.46% of the vote. In won re-election in 2016 and 2020, garnering 60.1% and 54.2% of the vote respectively.
Ahead of the 2024 South Korean legislative election, incumbent In Jae-keun announced that she would not be standing for re-election in Dobong A. On February 23, 2024, the Democratic Party nominated former YTN anchor Ahn Gwi-ryeong as the party's candidate for Dobong A. Despite the constituency's historical preference for candidates from the Democratic Party and predecessor parties, Ahn narrowly lost to Kim Jae-sub of the conservative People Power Party. Kim Jae-sub was one of only three People Power Party candidates to win in Seoul constituencies north of the Han River.

## Boundaries

The constituency encompasses the neighborhoods of Ssangmun 1-dong, Ssangmun 3-dong, and Chang-dong. It is bordered by Dobong B to the north, Gangbuk A to the south and west, Nowon A to the east, and Nowon B to the northeast.

## List of members of the National Assembly

| Election | Member | Party | Dates | Notes |
| 1988 | Shin Oh-chul | New Democratic Republican | 1988–1992 | |
| 1992 | Yoo Ihn-tae | Democratic | 1992–1996 | |
| 1996 | Kim Geun-tae | National Congress | 1996–2008 | Minister of Health and Welfare (2004–2006) |
| 2000 | Kim Geun-tae | Millennium Democratic | 1996–2008 | Minister of Health and Welfare (2004–2006) |
| 2004 | Kim Geun-tae | Uri | 1996–2008 | Minister of Health and Welfare (2004–2006) |
| 2008 | Shin Ji-ho | Grand National | 2008–2012 | |
| 2012 | In Jae-keun | Democratic United | 2012–2024 | Spouse of Kim Geun-tae |
| 2016 | In Jae-keun | Democratic | 2012–2024 | Spouse of Kim Geun-tae |
| 2020 | In Jae-keun | Democratic | 2012–2024 | Spouse of Kim Geun-tae |
| 2024 | Kim Jae-sub [ko] | People Power | 2024–present | |

## Election results
### 2024

Legislative Election 2024: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | People Power | Kim Jae-sub | 46,374 | 49.05 | 8.56 |
| | Democratic | Ahn Gwi-ryeong | 45,276 | 47.89 | 6.13 |
| | Green Justice | Yoon Oh | 2,882 | 3.04 | 1.84 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 905 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 95,398 | 69.72 | 4.03 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 136,836 | | |
| | People Power gain from Democratic | People Power gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

### 2020

Legislative Election 2020: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | In Jae-keun | 50,603 | 54.02 | 6.08 |
| | United Future | Kim Jae-sub | 37,967 | 40.49 | 0.59 |
| | Justice | Yoon Oh | 4,577 | 4.88 | new |
| | National Revolutionary | Park Young-chan | 554 | 0.59 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 950 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 93,701 | 65.69 | 6.42 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 142,625 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2016

Legislative Election 2016: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | In Jae-keun | 49,780 | 60.10 | 1.64 |
| | Saenuri | Lee Jae-bum | 33,050 | 39.90 | 0.23 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,831 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 84,661 | 59.27 | 3.98 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 142,823 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2012

Legislative Election 2012: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic United | In Jae-keun | 45,682 | 58.46 | 12.3 |
| | Saenuri | Yoo Kyung-hee | 31,361 | 40.13 | 7.91 |
| | Real Democratic | Park Chun-yup | 1,094 | 1.40 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 507 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78,644 | 55.29 | 6.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 142,229 | | |
| | Democratic United gain from Saenuri | Democratic United gain from Saenuri | Swing | | |

### 2008

Legislative Election 2008: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Grand National | Shin Ji-ho | 32,613 | 48.04 | 10.66 |
| | United Democratic | Kim Geun-tae | 31,335 | 46.16 | new |
| | Democratic Labor | Kim Seung-kyo | 2,347 | 3.45 | 1.4 |
| | Independent | Hong Woo-cheol | 951 | 1.40 | new |
| | Family Party for Peace and Unity | Lee Hyun-jae | 603 | 0.92 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 406 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 68,282 | 48.38 | 14.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 141,137 | | |
| | Grand National gain from United Democratic | Grand National gain from United Democratic | Swing | | |

### 2004

Legislative Election 2004: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Uri | Kim Geun-tae | 42,583 | 52.13 | new |
| | Grand National | Yang Kyung-ja | 30,538 | 37.38 | 4.63 |
| | Millennium Democratic | Lee Kyung-tae | 4,596 | 5.62 | 45.23 |
| | Democratic Labor | Hong Woo-cheol | 3,967 | 4.85 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 641 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 82,325 | 62.55 | 7.82 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 131,619 | | |
| | Uri hold | Uri hold | Swing | | |

### 2000

Legislative Election 2000: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Millennium Democratic | Kim Geun-tae | 34,233 | 50.85 | new |
| | Grand National | Yang Kyung-ja | 28,279 | 42.01 | 6.69 |
| | United Liberal Democrats | Lee Hee-sun | 2,464 | 3.66 | 10.16 |
| | Youth Progressive | Jeon Jin | 2,334 | 3.46 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 511 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,821 | 54.73 | 6.19 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 123,917 | | |
| | Millennium Democratic hold | Millennium Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 1996

Legislative Election 1996: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Congress | Kim Geun-tae | 27,768 | 38.85 | new |
| | New Korea | Yang Kyung-ja | 22,923 | 35.32 | 3.5 |
| | United Liberal Democrats | Shin Oh-chul | 9,884 | 13.82 | new |
| | Democratic | Ahn Pyung-su | 7,396 | 10.34 | new |
| | Independent | Cho Su-hwi | 1,176 | 1.64 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,109 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 72,578 | 60.92 | 6.85 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 119,140 | | |
| | National Congress gain from Democratic | National Congress gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

### 1992

Legislative Election 1992: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Yoo Ihn-tae | 48,603 | 40.88 | new |
| | Democratic Liberal | Shin Oh-chul | 27,838 | 31.82 | new |
| | Unification National | Han Ho-sang | 23,766 | 19.98 | new |
| | Independent | Cho Sung-kuk | 3,216 | 2.70 | new |
| | New Political Reform | Yoon Eung-soon | 2,670 | 2.24 | new |
| | Independent | Kim Jong-yoon | 1,631 | 1.37 | new |
| | Independent | Park Young-chul | 1,166 | 0.98 | new |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,159 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 120,049 | 67.77 | 1.01 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 177,153 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Democratic Liberal | Democratic gain from Democratic Liberal | Swing | | |

### 1988

Legislative Election 1988: Dobong A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic Republican | Shin Oh-chul | 39,873 | 33.27 | – |
| | Democratic Justice | Chang Cheon-seok | 23,183 | 19.34 | – |
| | Peace Democratic | Han Ho-sang | 22,532 | 18.80 | – |
| | Hankyoreh Democratic | Cho Soon-hyung | 17,817 | 14.86 | – |
| | Reunification Democratic | Park Jung-tae | 16,436 | 13.71 | – |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 854 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 120,695 | 68.78 | – |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 175,484 | | |
| | New Democratic Republican win (new seat) | New Democratic Republican win (new seat) | New Democratic Republican win (new seat) | New Democratic Republican win (new seat) | New Democratic Republican win (new seat) |