Jeong Junho, Gwangju Mayor Preliminary Candidate: "The Only Way for the Democratic Party to Survive is Innovative Nomination"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Jeong Jun-ho, a preliminary candidate for the mayor of Gwangju from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 10th, "The only way for the Democratic Party of Korea to survive after the presidential election defeat is through innovative nominations," and strongly demanded, "The nomination committee should apply a 30% nomination rate for women and youth among the candidates for the 17 metropolitan and provincial governors nationwide to balance the nominations."

Jeong, at his election office in Gwangcheon-dong on the same day, pointed out, "The current Democratic Party's constitution and regulations include provisions that at least 30% of public election candidates must be women and youth," but "due to exceptions based on the nature and scale of elections and practical limitations, this has not been well observed in each election."

He said, "After the emergency committee was formed following the presidential election defeat, Co-Chairman Park Ji-hyun announced plans to expand nominations for women and youth. She stated that the nomination system would be reformed so that young politicians can challenge and actively participate in politics without being bound by bonus points or quotas," and appealed, "The Democratic Party's nomination committee should show the public a changed Democratic Party through innovative nominations for metropolitan and provincial governors."

He added, "The way to save the Democratic Party, which lost the presidential election, is already decided. It is equal opportunity, a fair process, and just nomination results," and said, "The innovative nominations currently exercised by the Democratic Party should not be like sharpening a knife for a grindstone. As the party has strongly promised to reform itself, it must never ignore the voices demanding innovative nominations that meet the public's expectations."

He continued, "In the shortage of candidates for metropolitan and provincial governors in Gwangju and Honam, the same old candidates will not do," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party's innovative nominations must not lack inspiration, candidates, or issues. The practice of rotating nominations here and there will definitely lead to defeat in this local election."

Furthermore, he said, "Citizens of Gwangju are appealing for change and reform for the future of Gwangju and Honam. At the center of this is Jeong Jun-ho, the only young candidate for mayor of Gwangju, who will be the protagonist of change and innovation," and added, "How well the Democratic Party, which monopolizes power in Honam, soothes the deeply angered public sentiment in Gwangju and Honam after the presidential election defeat by showing change itself will determine the success or failure of the local elections."

Preliminary candidate Jeong graduated from Gakhwa Elementary School, Gakhwa Middle School, Dongsin High School (perfect score on the CSAT), and Seoul National University Law School. He passed the 49th Judicial Examination and served as a legal officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, chairman of the Democratic Party's Gwangju Buk-gu Gap regional committee, and head of the organizational headquarters of the 20th presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party Gwangju Metropolitan City Party Great Transformation Election Committee.

Currently, he is serving as the executive representative of the Sympathy Forum Honam Headquarters, a member of the manufacturing division of the Suwitak Dispute Mediation Council, an ethics judge of the Democratic Party Gwangju Metropolitan City Party, secretary general of the Hong Nam-soon Memorial Association, and a lawyer at Min Law Firm.