With the incumbent National Assembly embroiled in unending bipartisan and factional feuds, while still failing to draw out an electorate map with just three months left to the elections, it seems less-than-political people, and even controversial figures, believe they can do a better job.

Reflecting the public’s fatigue over such political vices, a considerable number of “unlikely” people have decided to join in the parliamentary race this year, vowing to realize the changes that conventional politicians seem unable to attain.

Of them is actress Kim Boo-seon, who has made a name for herself on several contentious social issues.
 

“I announce my independent candidacy in the parliamentary elections,” she said via her Facebook page on Saturday.

“I will make the sexiest and healthiest political party in Joseon (referring to South Korea).”

The 54-year-old actress, who has often starred in erotic films, most recently made the headlines in 2014 by raising the issue of corruption in apartment maintenance bills, claiming that some residents of her apartment complex in Seongdong-gu were getting a free ride on their bills at the cost of their neighbors.

Her campaign planks included cutting in half maintenance fees and the creation of public gardens in local apartment complexes. She did not specify which constituency she would be running in.

“Some people laugh at the fact that an erotic actress should challenge politics, but I consider (their scorn) a sign of interest in political issues,” she said in a radio interview.

She has also frequently been noticed for her forthright comments on her private life. In 2009, Kim claimed that marijuana should be classified as a special medicinal herb and legalized for clinical uses.

Another surprise candidate is 25-year-old Cho Eun-bi, who so far is the youngest preliminary candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

“I cautiously yet ambitiously announce my bid in the race to realize a new world, as the party name 'Saenuri' stands for,” the aspiring politician said last week.

"It is my dream to prove that any young person with a political vision may bring real changes to the world.”

Cho had worked on the campaign of then-candidate Park Geun-hye during the 18th presidential election in 2012 and is currently serving as vice chairperson in the party’s future generation committee.

Cho also attracted the public's attention with her selfies and revealing photographs going viral on the Internet.

Meanwhile, former Saenuri lawmaker Kang Yong-seok had recently announced his bid as a Saenuri Party candidate in Seoul’s Yongsan district but was rejected by the party leadership.
 

“A person who aroused social criticism is not fit to resume party membership,” the party’s vice floor leader Rep. Cho Won-jin told reporters on Monday.

Kang was expelled from the party in 2010 after making sexual remarks about female news announcers. His infamy went to extremes last year when he was involved in an alleged extramarital relationship with a famous blogger.

Less controversial aspirants include a 51-year-old shoeshine man and former boxer named Park Il-deung, who is preparing to run in the April race in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Park, whose name means “top” of "first class" in Korean, had entered for candidacy in the parliamentary elections in 2012 and the local elections in 2010 and 2014.

“If I am elected, I will make a tour around my constituency and shine people’s shoes while listening to their petitions,” he said.

Physically challenged candidates, such as infantile paralysis patient Kang Byeong-ryeong and visually impaired Lee Kyung-hye, are also aspiring for the Saenuri Party’s proportional representative positions.

By Bae Hyun-jung tellme@heraldcorp.com)