국립 부경대학교

정외과 정성훈, 2022 지방선거 양산시의원 당선

- 만 22세로 부·울·경 지역 구·시·군의원 중 최연소

△ 양산시의원 당선인 정성훈 학생. ⓒ사진 이성재(대외홍보팀)

2022 지방선거에서 부·울·경 지역 구·시·군의원 중 최연소인 만 22세의 청년 당선자가 나왔다.

그 주인공은 부경대학교 정치외교학과 정성훈 학생(3학년·휴학).

1999년 9월 6일생인 정성훈 당선인은 이번 선거에서 2명을 뽑는 양산시의원(가선거구)에 출마해 1위로 당선됐다.

지역에서 보기 드문 청년 정치인의 등장에 언론의 관심이 쏟아졌다. 학생 신분으로 의원 당선사례는 부경대에서도 처음이다. 부경투데이가 그 이색 사연의 주인공을 만났다.

많은 언론 인터뷰에 이미 소개된 것처럼 그의 선거 출마 이유는 지역의 문제를 해결할 수 있는 정치인이 되고 싶었고, 청년으로서 청년 문제를 직접 해결해 나가고 싶었기 때문이다.

하지만 학생 신분으로서 예산 문제 등 선거운동 과정의 많은 어려움을 어떻게 헤쳐나갔을까 

그는 “지난해 제대 후 받은 군적금 300만 원과 원룸 보증금 300만 원 등 600만 원으로 선거에 나섰다. 3평짜리 사무실에서 선거사무원 없이 혼자 선거운동을 진행했다.”라고 밝혔다.

그런 열악한 환경에도 선거에 진심으로 임한 것이 결국 당선이라는 결과로 나타났다.

그는 “선거사무원 등 지원 없이 행사나 시민들을 힘이 닿는 한 일일이 찾아다녔다. 모든 유세 현장에 후보가 직접 나선 셈이라, 시민들이 좋게 봐주신 것 같다.”라고 말했다.

처음에는 당선이 목표는 아니었다. 출마하는 데 의의를 둔 것에 가깝다. 그런데 현장에서 시민들, 사회적 약자들의 이야기를 들으면서 많은 현실 문제와 청년들의 문제를 해결하기 위해 어떻게든 당선돼야겠다는 것이 목표가 됐다. 추가로 1,000만 원 넘는 돈을 빌려 선거운동을 완주했다.

의지만 있었던 것은 아니다. 정치인을 목표로 군 제대 후 국민의힘 부산시 대학생위원회 위원으로 활동해온 것은 물론, 대학 1학년 때와 2학년 때 정치외교학과 학생들과 함께 대학생 모의의회 경연대회에 출전해 단체 부문 대상과 개인 부문에서도 수상하고, 깊이 있는 공부를 위해 법학과를 복수전공하는 등 지식과 경험까지 두루 갖추기 위해 힘써왔다.

당선의 목표를 이룬 그의 다음 목표는 무엇일까.

그는 “양산은 청년들이 많은 지역이지만, 청년들이 양산에서 활동할 수 있는 인프라가 부족한 것 같다. 지역 청년들이 지역에서 활동하고 머무를 수 있는 구심점을 만드는 것이 일차 목표.”라고 말했다.

이를 위해 이미 주민 민원을 듣고 현장을 살피며 해결방안을 고민하는 중이다. 스스로 내세운 공약도 이행하기 위해 준비하고 있다.

시의원으로서 본격적인 의정활동에 나서게 된 그에게 학생들에게 하고 싶은 말을 묻자 그는 부경인으로서의 자부심을 내비쳤다.

그는 “대학에서는 많은 것을 배울 수 있고, 경험할 수 있었다. 학생들이 스스로 한계를 짓지 말고 하고 싶은 분야에 도전하면 좋겠다.”라며, “선거운동을 하며 많은 사람을 만나보니 부경대 출신들이 양산시는 물론 많은 곳에서 활약하고 있었다. 나 또한 학교를 빛내는 데 보탬이 되기 위해 노력하겠다.”라고 힘주어 말했다. <부경투데이>

Jeong Seong-Hoon from the dept. of political science & diplomacy, elected as a city councilor of Yangsan in the 2022 local elections

- at the age of 22, the youngest member throughout districts, cities, and towns in Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam area

A student candidate has been elected at the international age of 22, the youngest member throughout districts, cities, and towns in Busan-Gyeongnam area in the 2022 local elections.

It is Jeong Seong-Hoon, a student from the department of political science and diplomacy at Pukyong National University (3rd year, on a leave of absence).

Born on September 6, 1999, the winner, Jeong Seong-Hoon, ran for the Yangsan city councilor (voting precinct 'A'), where only two people were elected in this election, and was elected as the first.

The media attention was focused on the emergence of young politicians, which are rare in local elections. It is the first time at Pukyong National University that a student has been elected to the city council. Pukyong Today met the main character of this interesting story.

As already mentioned in many media interviews, the reason he ran for election was because he wanted to become a politician who could solve local problems and, as a young man, he wanted to solve the problems of young people himself.

However, as a student, how did he get through the many difficulties of the election campaign, such as the budget problem?

He said, "I ran for the election with 6 million won by collecting 3 million won from the military deposit I received after being discharged from military duty last year and 3 million won from the studio apartment deposit. In a 10 ㎡ office, without an election clerk, I ran an election campaign alone."

Even in such a poor environment, his sincerity in the election resulted in him winning the election.

He said, "Without the support of election clerks, I searched for events and citizens as much as possible. It was as if one candidate had personally visited all the campaign sites by himself, so the citizens seem to have a good impression of me."

At first, winning was not his goal. It was close to what he meant to run for election. However, while listening to the stories of the citizens and the socially disadvantaged in the field, his goal was to be elected somehow to solve many real-world problems and the problems of the youth. In addition, he borrowed more than 10 million won to complete his campaign.

It wasn't that he only had the will. After being discharged from the military, he has been serving as a member of the Busan University Student Committee for People power party, as well as participating in the university student mock council contest with students from the department of political science and diplomacy in the first and second year of university and won the grand prize in the group and individual category each. Aiming to become a politician, he has always worked hard to acquire his knowledge and experience, such as double majoring in law for in-depth study.

Having achieved his dream of winning the election, what is his next goal?

"Although Yangsan is an area with many young people, it seems that the infrastructure for young people to work in Yangsan is lacking. My primary aim is to have essential glue for local youth to stay active in the region," he said.

To make it possible, he is already listening to residents' complaints, examining the site, and thinking about solutions. He is also preparing to fulfill the promises he has made.

When asked what he would like to say to school friends, who had started his full-fledged parliamentary activities as a city council member, he expressed his pride as a Pukyong National University student.

"In the campus, I was able to learn and experience a lot. I hope that students do not limit themselves and challenge themselves in the field they want to challenge," he continued to say, "I met many people during the election campaign and found that Pukyong National University graduates were active in Yangsan as well as in many places. I will continue to work hard bring honor to my university." <Pukyong Today>