4 Members of the Democratic Party and 1 Independent in Close Contest
Through a press conference announcing his candidacy, Shin Woo-cheol, Wando County Governor, declared his bid for a third term. Photo by Choi Kyung-pil
[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] With about 47 days left until the June 1 local elections, Shin Woo-cheol (Democratic Party), the incumbent governor of Wando County, Jeonnam, has relinquished the ‘incumbent premium’ and declared his candidacy for a third term.
According to the Local Autonomy Act, when a county governor registers as a preliminary candidate, their duties are suspended until the election day, and the deputy governor acts on behalf of the governor.
On the 7th, Governor Shin held a press conference in the large conference room on the 4th floor of Wando County Office and stated, “Over the past eight years, I have devoted all my efforts to building a ‘hopeful future Wando where everyone prospers,’ and by dynamically promoting county administration, the blueprint for Wando has become clear,” explaining his reason for running.
He continued, “During this time, we upgraded the coastal tourist road between Wando and Goheung to a national highway after 20 years, and reflected the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando expressway in the national plan. Also, for the centennial plan, we secured about 100 billion won for the marine healing industry and marine bio-industry, and are smoothly advancing the infrastructure,” emphasizing, “It was not an easy journey, but thanks to the support and cooperation of the residents and compatriots, we achieved this valuable result.”
Furthermore, he stressed, “Now is the time to achieve uninterrupted great leaps in Wando’s development based on the well-established foundation,” and added, “To do so, a capable and proven person must take responsibility for the 8th term of civilian-led county administration.”
Governor Shin’s pledges include “drastically improving accessibility by promoting early construction of the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando expressway, building the Wando-Goheung coastal tourist road, improving the alignment of the Gogeum section of National Road 77, and constructing the Yeondo Bridge between Nohwa and Soan. We will successfully settle the marine healing and marine bio-industries, which have been adopted as national agenda items, creating a virtuous economic cycle that generates jobs, increases local residents’ income, and fosters simultaneous growth in medical care and agriculture and fisheries.”
To complete Wando as a marine tourism hub city, he said, “We will create a ‘Clean Sea Capital’ by developing the National Subtropical Arboretum, attracting the National Marine Fisheries Museum, constructing the Dadohae cable car, building the Choi Kyung-ju Golf Course, and establishing a national island garden, highlighting themes such as healing, gardens, birth, anti-Japanese resistance, and scenic beauty across four regions: the southern, eastern, and Cheongsan areas.” He also emphasized, “To revive the local economy, we will support card fees for small business owners and self-employed people, modernize the Wando bus terminal, attract coastal fishing fleets, and open and operate a manpower brokerage center to resolve the urgent labor shortage.”
Additionally, Governor Shin stated, “To foster agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, we will develop new high-income crop varieties to enhance agricultural competitiveness, expand the supply of high-quality seaweed seedlings to respond to climate change, and overcome the crisis in fisheries.” He added, “We will significantly expand the production base of agriculture and fisheries to promote smart livestock farming and premium Korean beef branding and regional development, improve residential environments, and make Wando a healthy island where people want to live for a long time.”
He also stressed, “By successfully hosting large-scale events such as the 2030 Jeonnam Provincial Sports Festival, the 2024 Jeonnam Disabled Sports Festival and Sports Festival, and the 2025 Wando International Seaweed Expo, we will revitalize the local economy and elevate the status of Cheonghaejin Wando.”
Shin Woo-cheol will officially register as a preliminary candidate on the 11th and begin official election campaigning.
Governor Shin is known as an expert in fisheries administration. He graduated from Wando Fisheries High School in 1972 and completed his master’s and doctoral courses in fisheries at Chonnam National University in Yeosu.
He began his public service career at the Mokpo branch of the National Fisheries Promotion Agency, served as head of fishing village guidance offices in Jindo, Gochang, Tongyeong, and Wando, and held positions as director of the Jeonnam Fisheries Technology Office and the inaugural director of the Jeonnam Marine Fisheries Science Institute.
He later served as chairman of the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Party’s Special Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock Development, was deputy governor of Jindo, and succeeded in being re-elected for the 7th term following the 6th term of civilian-led administration.
Governor Shin explained national budget projects aiming to complete the Gwangju-Wando expressway and Wando-Goheung coastal tourist road, frequently visiting central government departments to secure budget allocations, achieving significant results.
He is also actively addressing comprehensive solutions to island drinking water shortages, education and medical services, and welfare issues.
Last year, he achieved great success in regional development by securing 103.5 billion won for the government’s ‘Fishing Village New Deal 300’ project and 92.6 billion won for fostering the marine healing industry.
Governor Shin’s early entry into the election ahead of the official candidate registration dates of May 12-13 next month is interpreted as reflecting the difficulty of expecting the incumbent premium, as political activities of local government heads are restricted by election laws from April 2, 60 days before the election.
Local government heads, superintendents of education, and affiliated public officials are prohibited from hosting or sponsoring cultural lectures, project briefings, public hearings, professional group meetings, sports events, senior citizen events, and civil complaint consultations from 60 days before the election day.
With the change of administration expected to alter the local political landscape, and five preliminary candidates including Park In-cheol, Wando County councilor from the same party; Kim Shin, vice chairman of the Democratic Party Central Policy Committee; Shin Young-gyun, vice chairman of the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Party; Ji Young-bae, former Jeonnam Provincial Office director; and an independent candidate who is chairman of Bio-Oplak Co., Ltd., having registered and actively entering the election, the pressure of competing for party nomination is also cited by local political circles as a reason for hastening the candidacy.
The upcoming June 1 local elections have drawn attention as both the momentum of the prevailing trend and the appeal of individual candidates rise, focusing on where the votes of Wando residents will go.
Wando=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil ckp6737@asiae.co.kr
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