668 Candidates Registered in Gyeongnam, Average Competition Rate 1.9 to 1

Gyeongnam Provincial Election Commission. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Election Commission reported an average competition rate of 1.9 to 1 across 193 electoral districts for the upcoming local elections in June.

According to the Gyeongnam Election Commission, a total of 688 candidates registered for the election to select 355 officials, including the local elections and the Changwon Uichang National Assembly by-election.

The Gyeongnam gubernatorial election is expected to be a four-way race among Yang Munseok of the Democratic Party of Korea, Park Wansu of the People Power Party, Yeo Youngguk of the Justice Party, and Choi Jinseok of the Unified Korea Party.

In the superintendent of education election, candidates Park Jonghun and Kim Sangkwon will face off.

In Tongyeong, Geoje, Changnyeong, and Hapcheon, four candidates each are running; in Sacheon, Uiryeong, Yangsan, Hadong, and Sancheong, three candidates each; and in Changwon, Jinju, Goseong, Gimhae, Miryang, Haman, Namhae, Hamyang, and Geochang, two candidates each are running. A total of 49 candidates have registered for the 18 basic local government head elections in the province.

For the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly election with 58 seats, 120 candidates have run, and for the city and county council elections selecting 234 members, 421 candidates have registered.

In the proportional representation election for the provincial assembly selecting six members, 12 candidates registered, and for the proportional representation city and county council elections selecting 36 members, 58 candidates registered.

The Changwon Uichang National Assembly by-election, held alongside the local elections, features a two-way contest between Kim Jisoo of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Youngseon of the People Power Party.

The official campaign period for the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections and National Assembly by-elections runs from the 19th of this month to May 31st. Statistics on candidates by party, occupation, education, gender, and age can be checked on the Central Election Commission's election statistics system.

An election commission official stated, “We hope everyone abides by election laws to ensure this election is conducted fairly and cleanly. Political parties and candidates should compete fairly through policies, and voters should carefully examine pledges and candidates before making their choices.”