[22nd General Election Candidates] Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (Eul)

Democratic Party Designates 'Strategic Electoral District'... Candidates on Edge Over Primary Decision

Yang Bu-nam, Kim Kwang-jin, Kim Kyung-man in Full Swing of Nomination Race 'Consolidating Support'

Green Justice Party's Kang Eun-mi and P

Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (Eul), the electoral district of Representative Yang Hyang-ja, who left the Democratic Party of Korea and merged with Lee Jun-seok's Reform New Party to serve as floor leader, is one of the constituencies attracting attention in this general election as it is vacant for Democratic Party lawmakers. Due to the local characteristic that "the Democratic Party primary is essentially the main election," Democratic Party candidates are racing for the nomination to fill the vacant seat within the party.

In particular, the Democratic Party has classified this district as a strategic election due to the incumbent lawmaker's defection and has yet to decide on strategic nomination, single-candidate nomination, or primary election, making the central party's decision highly anticipated.

From the left, Kang Eun-mi, Kim Kwang-jin, Kim Kyung-man, Kim Hae-jung, Yang Bu-nam preliminary candidates. (in alphabetical order)

Within the Democratic Party, preliminary candidates Yang Bu-nam, Kim Kwang-jin, and Kim Kyung-man are cultivating their voter base for the nomination.

Yang Bu-nam, known as a former high-ranking prosecutor from a humble background, gained attention while serving as the Democratic Party's legal committee chair, overseeing the defense against judicial risks faced by party leader Lee Jae-myung. Notably, having worked alongside President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party's emergency committee chair, he is expected within the party to act as a sharp critic of the Yoon administration and the ruling party.

His approachable and affable nature, uncommon for a former prosecutor, and his humble communication style with residents are considered his strengths.

Kim Kwang-jin also resigned from his position as Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy of Gwangju to enter the election. He began his political career as a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party and served as a proportional representative in the 19th National Assembly. He later held positions such as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House and Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, gaining experience both centrally and locally.

Kim Kyung-man, a current proportional representative lawmaker, is known as an expert in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business economic policies, having worked at the Korea Federation of SMEs for over 30 years. Recognized for this expertise, he entered the National Assembly through proportional representation in the 21st election and served as chair of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on SMEs.

From the Green Justice Party, an electoral alliance of the Justice Party and the Green Party, proportional representative lawmaker Kang Eun-mi has declared her candidacy. Kang Eun-mi is regarded as a grassroots politician, having served as a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council and the Gwangju City Council. After a 23-day hunger strike, she successfully passed the Serious Accident Punishment Act, which she had introduced as the main sponsor, in the plenary session.

From the Progressive Party, Kim Hae-jung, the Progressive Party's Seo-gu Eul regional committee chair, has thrown down the gauntlet. She is actively engaged in grassroots political activities as co-chair of the Progressive Party's joint countermeasure committee for preserving the original form and improving water quality of Pungam Lake.