The Honourable
Suh Byung-soo
MP
서병수
Suh Byung-soo in 2014
Mayor of Busan
In office
1 July 2014 – 30 June 2018
Preceded byHur Nam-sik
Succeeded byOh Keo-don
Secretary-General of the Saenuri Party
In office
21 May 2012 – 13 May 2013
PresidentHwang Woo-yea
Preceded byKwon Young-se
Succeeded byHong Moon-jong
Mayor of Haeundae
In office
26 January 2000 – 8 February 2002
Preceded byShin Joong-bock
Succeeded byChung Young-seok (acting)
Huh Ok-kyung
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
30 May 2020
Preceded byKim Young-choon
ConstituencyBusanjin 1st
In office
9 August 2002 – 15 May 2014
Preceded bySohn Tae-in
Succeeded byBae Duck-kwang
ConstituencyHaeundae-Gijang 1st
Personal details
Born (1952-01-09) 9 January 1952
Daun, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
(now Daun-dong, Central District, Ulsan)
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyPeople Power
Other political
affiliations		NKP (1996-1997)
GNP (1997-2012)
Saenuri (2012-2017)
LKP (2017-2020)
UFP (2020)
SpouseKwon Soon-jin
ChildrenSuh Seung-jae
Suh Kyung-jae
ParentSuh Seok-in (father)
RelativesSuh Ha-soo
Suh Hyun-soo
Suh Bum-soo
Alma materSogang University
Northern Illinois University
OccupationPolitician
Signature

Suh Byung-soo (Korean: 서병수; born 9 January 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the Mayor of Busan from 2014 to 2018. He previously served as the Member of the National Assembly for Haeundae-Gijang 1st constituency from 2002 to 2014 and the Mayor of Haeundae from 2000 to 2002.

A member of the conservative People Power Party, Suh was elected the Mayor of Busan on 4 June 2014, defeating the independent candidate Oh Keo-don. In 2018, he ran for re-election but lost to Oh, who ran under the Democratic banner.

Early life

Suh Byung-soo was born in 1952, in the town of Daun, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang (now Daun-dong, Central District, Ulsan),[1] to the son of Suh Seok-in (died in 2020), the founder of Woojin Service who had served as the Member of the Busan Metropolican Council from 1991 to 1995 and the Mayor of Haeundae from 1995 to 1998.[2][3][4] His mom died in February 1997.[5] He is the eldest among 4 sons and a daughter to the ex-Haeundae Mayor; he is the brother to Suh Ha-soo, Suh Hyun-soo and Suh Bum-soo.[2][5] Although he was born in Ulsan, he grew up in Yeongdo, Busan.[6]

He went to 3 different schools — Yeongdo Primary School,[7] Busan Secondary School and Kyungnam High School.[4] He later attended Sogang University and received a bachelor's and a master's degree in economics.[4][8] Then, he fled to the United States and received a doctorate in economics from Northern Illinois University[8] in 1987.[4] Following the graduation, he briefly worked at Ford Motor Company before he returned to South Korea and continued his career at Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology.[9] In 1990s,[10] he was the CEO of Woojin Service,[8] succeeding his father who had resigned in order to run for the 1991 local elections. He served till the end of 1997,[11] however, in 2000, some sources reported that he was still serving the position at that time.[11][12] This time, he was also an adjunct professor at Dong-Pusan College.[12]

Political career

In the 2000 by-elections, Suh ran as the Grand National Party (GNP)'s nominee for the Mayor of Haeundae and was elected,[12][11] defeating 2 independent candidates (the then-ruling Millennium Democratic Party aka MDP did not put a candidate).[13] He succeeded the predecessor Shin Joong-bock, whose election was annulled for violating the election law in 1999.[14] He promised to attract both foreign and private capitals and make the district as a logistic hub for information and tourism.[12] Under his mayorship, he had successfully fixed hawker stalls at Hoan Road and built Moontan Road.[15]

He resigned on 7 February 2002 in order to run for the MP for Haeundae-Gijang 1st constituency at the by-election called due to the death of Sohn Tae-in.[16] He won with 27,961 votes, defeating the MDP candidate Choi In-ho.[17] In the 2004 election, he again contested with Choi In-ho who ran under the Uri Party banner in this time. Despite coming behind in exit polls, he successfully beat his rival.[6] Shortly after the re-election in 2008, he served as the Chairman of the Strategy and Finance Committee,[18] for this time, he suggested an amendment of the Tax Law and Bank of Korea Act, including tax reduction.[18][8] In 2010, he was elected as a Vice President of the GNP.[18]

In the 2012 election, Suh contested under the Saenuri banner and defeated the DFP-UFP unity candidate, Goh Chang-kwon, with a majority of 18,705 votes.[19] He was a potential candidate for the Saenuri parliamentary leader, but some media suggested he could be "nominated" the position under the interim President Park Geun-hye.[20] Known as the "Nominee List",[21][4] on 25 April, he finally declared to not seek for the position.[20] On 21 May, under the new President Hwang Woo-yea, he was appointed the party's Secretary-General.[8][9][21] As the Secretary-General, he contributed its presidential candidate Park Geun-hye to be elected to the position in December.[4]

Mayor of Busan

2014 mayoral election

On 26 February 2014, Suh officially launched his bid for Busan mayorship at Daehang Saebaji Harbour, Gadeok Island.[22][23] Following are the manifestos included in his declaration:[22][23]

  • Building the new airport (replacing the incumbent Gimhae International Airport) in Gadeok Island
  • Developing West Busan as a rich riverside city with future high-tech industries and cultural infrastructures
  • Creating 200,000 of new jobs, including 50,000 of stable jobs
  • Redeveloping:

He contested with the former Sasang MP and the ex-ambassador to Japan Kwon Chul-hyun and the then North-Gangseo MP Park Min-shik at the Saenuri preselection.[24] On 3 April, he relinquished his parliamentary membership in order to focus on his campaign.[25] On 30 April, he gained 36.9% and defeated 2 ex-MPs.[26]

Though he led at the beginning,[27] he was expected to lose[28] after the NPAD candidate Kim Young-choon abandoned his campaign and endorsed the independent candidate Oh Keo-don,[29] the former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries who had ever been run for 2 times before. On 4 June, he narrowly beat the former Oceans and Fisheries Minister by a margin of approximately 2%.[30]

Mayoralty

Suh was sworn into office on 1 July 2014, approximately a month after the election.[31] He promised "Citizens First" policies and the "Nakdong River Era".[31] Prior to the inauguration, he put a slogan "Happy Citizens, Healthy Busan".[32]

Since before the election, he pledged to build the new airport (replacing the incumbent Gimhae International Airport) in Gadeok Island[22][23] and to resign should the manifesto would not be fulfilled.[33] On 21 June 2016, the Government of Park Geun-hye had brought a decision in which they would expand the incumbent Gimhae Airport, instead of replacing it in either Gadeok Island or Miryang, recommended by the ADP Ingénierie.[34] The Government's determination was criticised as "breaking a promise" from the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party[35][36] and the People's Party,[37][36] despite the reactions from the Blue House.[38][39] There were earlier prognoses that Suh would stand down for taking responsibilities;[40] in fact, a day before the governmental determination, he ensured "no alternatives except at Gadeok Island".[41] On 27 June, however, he confirmed he would accept the Government's decision and would not step down as Mayor.[42][43]

Suh Byung-soo with Jung Jin-sup

On 16 August 2017, Lotte Corporation had donated 100 billion won (≒ 100 million US$) to Busan for the Opera House development at North Port.[44][45] Suh emphasised that the Opera House would not just be a cultural complex for citizens, but also become a tourist attraction and a new workplaces.[44][45] The construction was begun on 22 May 2018.[46]

On 21 September, the Busan City Government announced perhaps they would purchase 100 billion won to build a landmark, which is the Statue of Liberty, as a part of the North Harbour Redevelopment.[47][48][49] The location was not confirmed yet, but probably nearby Shinseondae Quay, Yongdang-dong, South District.[47][48] According to the plan, the construction would begin in 2020 and be completed by 2022.[48][49] There were criticisms that whether the city is possible to proceed the project despite of owing too much debts.[50] The City Government reacted they have not made any decisions yet.[50]

2018 mayoral election

Suh Byung-soo campaigning at Gwangbok Street, Central District in June 2018

Prior to the 2018 local elections, the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) was agonising over preselection for Busan mayorship.[51] On 16 March 2018, the LKP confirmed the party had nominated Suh as its candidate, instead of holding a preselection.[52] Lee Jong-hyuk, one of potential rival close to the party president Hong Jun-pyo, announced his departure from the party due to his objection towards the decision.[53] Lee, then, launched his bid to run as an independent candidate.[53]

On 3 April, the Democratic Party confirmed they would nominate Oh Keo-don, who had unsuccessfully stood 4 years ago, as its candidate.[54] Therefore, Suh faced the 2nd competition with Oh.[54]

However, according to the opinion polls of Realmeter on 5 May, Suh came far behind to Oh (Oh: 57.7%, Suh: 27.1%).[55] As of June, he failed to narrow the interval between the Democratic candidate.[56][57] On 13 June, he only received 37.16% and was finally defeated to Oh.[58] The LKP also lost many of its district mayors and metropolitan council members to the Democratic Party.[59]

Post-mayorship

On 5 March 2020, Suh was selected the MP candidate for Busanjin 1st constituency at the 2020 election.[60] Many polls showed neck and neck with the Democratic candidate Kim Young-choon, but Suh successfully defeated Kim.[61]

Shortly after his comeback to the National Assembly, Oh Keo-don resigned as the Mayor of Busan on 23 April following the allegations of sexual harassment has provoked the by-election in 2021.[62][63] As the incident provoked a by-election in 2021, Suh became one of the potential candidate to the position, and he also indicated that he was considering to run.[64] Nevertheless, on 21 December, he announced not to contest the election.[65][66] Several sources reported that he was backing the former Deputy Mayor Park Seong-hun at the PPP preselection,[66][67] and on 23 February 2021, he left some positive comments about the former Deputy Mayor.[68]

On the other hand, Park Seong-hun lost to the former MP for Suyeong Park Hyung-joon, whom Suh criticised as "incapable" to the position,[69] at the PPP preselection on 4 March.[70][71]

Election results

General elections

YearConstituencyPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2002Haeundae-Gijang 1stGNP27,961 (69.60%)Won
2004Haeundae-Gijang 1stGNP71,913 (55.55%)Won
2008Haeundae-Gijang 1stGNP57,968 (64.98%)Won
2012Haeundae-Gijang 1stSaenuri68,136 (55.52%)Won
2020Busanjin 1stUFP52,037 (48.52%)Won

Local elections

Mayor of Haeundae

YearPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2000GNP15,793 (55.70%)Won

Mayor of Busan

YearPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2014Saenuri797,926 (50.65%)Won
2018LKP632,806 (37.16%)Defeated

References

  1. ↑ "[집성촌을 찾아서]시조 서진의 7대손인 건손이 울산입향조". 15 September 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 "서병수 전 시장 부친 서석인 씨 별세". 13 January 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "부산시장 선거, 오거돈 VS 서병수 재력가들의 대결". 11 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "[Who Is ?] 서병수 부산광역시장". 5 January 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 "부음". 19 February 1997. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 "내리 '4선'한 친박 핵심". 25 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "영도초등학교, 서병수 부산시장 초청 특강 개최". 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "[프로필] 서병수 새누리당 사무총장". 21 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 "[프로필]새누리당 서병수 사무총장은 누구인가". 21 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "여성 운전기사 늘어". 11 February 1992. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "서병수 해운대 신임 구청장 대형 복합건물 '구설수'". 31 January 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "[이사람]서병수 부산 해운대구청장 당선자". 27 January 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  13. ↑ "구청장 재·보선 한나라당 모두 승리". 26 January 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "신중복 해운대구청장 직위상실". 27 November 1999. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "'친박 핵심' 서병수 부산시장의 홀로서기". 4 March 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "서병수 해운대구청장 사퇴". 7 February 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "부산 해운대-기장 갑". 8 August 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 "서병수 한나라당 최고위원 프로필". 14 July 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  19. ↑ "[동정] 서병수 국회의원 4선 성공". 12 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  20. 1 2 "'원내대표 내정설' 친박 서병수 "불출마"". 25 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  21. 1 2 "새누리 사무총장 서병수… 친박계 '빅3' 싹쓸이". 21 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 "새누리당 서병수의원 부산시장 출마선언". 26 February 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  23. 1 2 3 "새누리 서병수·민주당 김영춘, 부산시장 출마 선언(종합)". 26 February 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "새누리당 부산시장 경선, 권철현·박민식·서병수 3파전". 16 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  25. ↑ "서병수, 의원직 사퇴 지지율 반등 승부수 될까". 3 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  26. ↑ "새누리당 부산시장 후보 서병수 전 의원…경선서 36.7% 득표". 30 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "단일화 논의 김영춘-오거돈 지지율 합산땐 서병수 넘어". 15 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  28. ↑ "부산시장 서병수 40대 지지율 `반토막`…無당파 절반 오거돈 지지". 26 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  29. ↑ "'김영춘 사퇴' 오거돈 부산시장 야권단일 후보…서병수 맞대결". 16 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "서병수 당선 소감 "시민의 뜻 잘 받들겠다"". 5 June 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  31. 1 2 "취임사로 본 '서병수號' "현장에 답 있다"… 취임 첫날 식당·시장·기업 찾은 부산시장". 1 July 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  32. ↑ "서병수 부산시장 취임식, '시민' 콘셉트로 파격 행보". 24 June 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  33. ↑ "서병수 "가덕신공항 무산 땐 시장직 사퇴"…오거돈 "당선되고 보자는 무책임한 행태"". 26 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "[신공항 무산파장] 밀양-가덕도 모두 탈락한 이유는...10문10답". 21 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  35. ↑ "더민주 부산 "김해공항 확장은 대선공약 파기" 공세". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  36. 1 2 "2野, 朴대통령 정조준 "김해공항 확장, 공약파기…입장표명해야"". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  37. ↑ "국민의당 "김해공항 확장을 신공항이라는 것은 지록위마"". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  38. ↑ "靑 "신공항 공약파기 아니다…김해공항이 신공항"(종합)". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  39. ↑ "청와대 "신공항 공약파기 아니다…김해공항이 신공항"". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  40. ↑ "'가덕신공항 물거품' 서병수 시장 사퇴 기로". 25 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  41. ↑ "가덕도 신공항 유치실패, 서병수 부산시장 사퇴여부는?". 21 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "180도 입장 바꾼 서병수 "김해신공항 전향적 수용"". 27 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "서병수 부산시장 사퇴 안한다… 김해신공항 수용". 27 June 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  44. 1 2 "롯데의 '부산사랑' …오페라하우스 건립에 1000억원 기부". 16 August 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  45. 1 2 "부산오페라하우스 본격 추진···롯데그룹 건립비 1000억원 완납". 16 August 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  46. ↑ "서병수 "글로벌 시티 부산 도약에 최선 다할 것"". 22 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  47. 1 2 "부산판 '자유의 여신상' 북항에 세운다". 21 September 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  48. 1 2 3 "부산시 '1000억' 들여 부산판 '자유의 여신상' 세운다". 21 September 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  49. 1 2 "부산항에 1천억 들여 '자유의 여신상'?… 커지는 비판론". 27 September 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  50. 1 2 "빚더미 부산시, 이번엔 '자유의 여신상' 건립?". 27 September 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  51. ↑ "한국당 부산시장 후보 선정 경선이냐 전략공천이냐". 16 February 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  52. ↑ "자유한국당 5개 지역 광역단체장 전략공천 확정". 16 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  53. 1 2 "'서병수 공천 반발' 이종혁, 자유한국당 탈당해 부산시장 출마". 19 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  54. 1 2 "서병수-오거돈 부산 리턴매치 1.31%p차 갈렸던 승패, 이번엔?". 3 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  55. ↑ "부산시장 여론조사, 오거돈 57.7% 서병수 27.1%". 8 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  56. ↑ "[6.13 지방선거] D-12, 부산시장 후보 오거돈-서병수 지지율 여론조사 총합". 1 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  57. ↑ "[부산-리얼미터] 시장 '오거돈50% >서병수30%', 교육감 김석준 1위". 8 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  58. ↑ "부산시장에 오거돈 당선…민주당 첫 단체장 기록(종합)". 14 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  59. ↑ "역대 선거 기록 모두 갈아 치운 6.13지선, 더민주의 '완승'으로". 14 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  60. ↑ "서병수 우선공천에 부산진갑·을 적전분열 우려". 6 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  61. ↑ "미래통합당 서병수 당선인 "경제 살리겠다"". 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  62. ↑ "울먹이는 오거돈, 부산시장 사퇴…"女에 불필요한 신체접촉 인정" [종합]". 23 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  63. ↑ "오거돈 부산시장, 여성 직원 성추행…시장직 사퇴". 23 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  64. ↑ "서병수 "부산시장 출마, 12월말이나 1월초쯤 결심하겠다"". 29 September 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  65. ↑ "서병수, 부산시장 불출마 선언으로 국민의힘 당내 경선 '요동'". 21 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  66. 1 2 "서병수 의원 "부산시장 보선 불출마, 유능한 젊은 인재 필요"". 21 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  67. ↑ "불출마 선언 서병수 의원…박성훈 지지?". 22 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  68. ↑ "국민의힘 서병수, 사실상 박성훈 예비후보 공개 지지...후보단일화 메시지도". 23 February 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  69. ↑ "[정치 데스크 '인사이드'] 서병수, 박형준 시장 부적합 2개의 이유를 댔다". 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  70. ↑ "[2보] 국민의힘 서울시장 후보에 오세훈…부산은 박형준". 4 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  71. ↑ "국민의힘, 서울·부산시장 후보로 '오세훈·박형준' 선출". 4 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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