Attention is turning to singer From20 (real name Kim Rae-hwan) after his father, Kim Joong-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea, won the Gangneung mayoral race in the 9th nationwide local elections.
Kim secured victory in the Gangneung mayoral election based on Wednesday's vote count, becoming the first Democratic Party candidate ever to take the post. He is the first liberal-leaning mayor of Gangneung in 31 years since the 1995 local elections.
◇ First Liberal Mayor in 31 Years Shakes Up Conservative Stronghold
According to the National Election Commission's election statistics system, Kim secured the win with 55,347 votes (51.76%) at 3:15 a.m. with 93.77% of the ballots counted. Kim Hong-kyu of the People Power Party received 44,869 votes (41.96%), while independent candidate Kim Dong-ki garnered 6,704 votes (6.27%).
The Gangneung mayoral race was expected to be fiercely contested from the outset. Competition was so heated that around nine candidates, including those from each party and independents, took part in the primary process alone.
Analysts say it is unusual for a Democratic Party-affiliated candidate to win in Gangneung, a region traditionally known for its strong conservative leanings. The race remained tight until the final stretch, but Kim seized the lead by emphasizing "change for Gangneung."
Kim's key pledges included attracting a data center, building a high-tech industrial belt and establishing a mega-city in the Yeongdong region. After his victory became certain, he said, "I bow my head in gratitude to the citizens of Gangneung who supported me even in difficult circumstances." He added, "Together with citizens, I will build a Gangneung where citizens are the masters, where young people return, and which stands tall as the center of the East Coast."
◇ Son by His Side at Victory: Who Is Singer From20?
Another figure drawing attention at the moment of victory was Kim's son, singer From20 (real name Kim Rae-hwan).
From20 stayed by his father's side at the campaign office while watching the vote count, sharing in the joy. The two clasped hands and took commemorative photos to mark the moment of victory.
From20 debuted in 2012 as a member of the idol group BIGSTAR and has been active as a singer-songwriter since the group disbanded. He has continued his music career, participating directly in songwriting, composing and producing.
He actively supported his father in this election as well. Last month, he posted content titled "The youngest son of a Gangneung mayoral candidate's campaign vlog" on his social media and consistently shared posts featuring scenes from the campaign trail.
He recently posted a photo with his father, wearing a shirt printed with campaign slogans, alongside the message "I love you, Dad." Despite a stream of malicious comments from some far-right online users, he did not stop supporting the campaign.
Notably, he dyed his hair from yellow — a color he had maintained since last year — to black ahead of the campaign, drawing attention. He also stayed at the campaign office on the day of the vote count, sharing the moment of his father's victory.
Meanwhile, Kim is a former civil servant at Gangneung City Hall who served as chairman of the Korean Government Employees' Union and as a civic activist before being elected mayor. "I am grateful to the campaign workers who ran alongside me from morning to evening, the citizens who cheered me on, and my family who quietly stood by my side," he said. "I will prove without fail that your choice was not wrong."
