He does not have political experience but he “threw his hat” into the election ring because he knows he has the drive and the will to accomplish what needs to be done.
Won holds a bachelor of science degree in electronic engineerin from DeVry Institute of Technology in Columbus, Ohio.
Underdog
Won said he knows he is the underdog in this election.
But he also thinks that “it is better this way because the only way to go is up.”
Won said he is not targeting a certain group of the community for support.
He noted, however, that his wife, Dora Ulloa Palacios, who has 14 siblings, belongs to one of the CNMI’s biggest families.
Although four other candidates —Luis P. Crisostimo, John Oliver DLR. Gonzales, Juan T. Lizama and Gregorio C. Sablan — are somehow related to Palacios, Won said his wife’s family has been very supportive.
The reason he can’t spend for advertisements is because “we are trying to budget our money and we’re not doing any fundraisers.”
He said he and his wife are not going to ask money from the public because they know how hard-pressed the people are.
Won said he has been approached by Korean groups and other Korean business owners who offered him help.
He said he told them they could help his candidacy by telling their U.S. citizen relatives to vote for him.
Jonathan Joo, secretary-general of the Korean Association on Saipan, told Variety that of the 3,000 Koreans living in the CNMI, only less than hundred, mostly their children, are registered voters. He said what their group can give Won is “moral support.”
Won was born in South Korea and was raised in Ohio. He has been residing on Saipan for 11 years and has been married in 2002. He and his wife have four children — Walter, 15; Augustine, 13; E’anna, 6; and Ky’sonna, 4.
Won said most of the people that he knows and has been with are locals.
He used to work for the Department of Public Safety as a police officer. He said when he left DPS in 2002, he opened up his own business and running it is what he has been doing ever since.
He also played for the Commonwealth Football League for many years.
