Democratic Party and Joguk Innovation Party Head to Honam Side by Side... Targeting October By-Elections

Jokuk "Confrontation between Jokuk Innovation Party and Democratic Party Inevitable"
Park Ji-won "Now is the Time for Unity, Not Competition"

The Democratic Party of Korea and the Joguk Innovation Party have begun vying for votes in Honam ahead of the upcoming by-elections in October. The Joguk Innovation Party is emphasizing 'healthy competition' within the pro-democracy camp for regime change. However, the Democratic Party insists that confrontation is inevitable to maintain its leadership in Honam, long considered an opposition stronghold.

According to political circles on the 30th, Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, Kim Min-seok, a Supreme Council member, and Lee Han-joo, head of the Democratic Research Institute, among other leaders, moved to Jeonnam immediately after the party workshop to hold a meeting with provincial council members. The reason for the party leadership's large-scale visit to Jeonnam is interpreted as an effort to gauge public sentiment and inspect the field ahead of the October 16 by-election for the re-election of county heads in Yeonggwang and Gokseong, Jeonnam, as well as to check the Joguk Innovation Party.

The Joguk Innovation Party, which held a workshop in Yeonggwang and Gokseong, Jeonnam, from the previous day through the 30th to strengthen communication with local residents, plans to field candidates for local government heads not only in Yeonggwang and Gokseong counties but also in Geumjeong District, Busan, and Ganghwa County, Incheon, in this by-election. At an on-site press conference, Party Leader Jo said, "In this by-election, a confrontation between the Joguk Innovation Party and the Democratic Party in Honam is inevitable," adding, "We believe our policies are better than those of the Democratic Party. This election is not just a regional issue but a touchstone showing how local politics should proceed in the future."

Leader Jo intends to use the results of this by-election as a barometer to prepare for the 2026 local elections and the presidential election. He also believes the party's higher vote share than the Democratic Party in the 22nd general election's proportional representation vote indicates a high possibility of victory in this election. To focus on the October by-election, Leader Jo has decided to stay in Honam for the time being.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (right), is visiting Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In response to the Joguk Innovation Party's push into Honam, the Democratic Party has moved to counter it. Following Supreme Council members Kim Min-seok and Han Jun-ho's visit to Gokseong, Jeonnam, on the 24th to reaffirm the party's support, Floor Leader Park Chan-dae visited Yeonggwang on the same day to focus on securing votes. The Democratic Party is concerned that if it loses the by-election amid the 'Honam neglect theory' faced since the general election, the leadership will be damaged. This would signify a fracture in the leadership of Representative Lee Jae-myung, who aims for the presidency.

Local sentiment regarding the Honam neglect theory was partially revealed during the regional primary elections ahead of the August 18 party convention. The turnout in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk was 23.17% and 20.28%, respectively, much lower than Daegu (52.23%) and Gyeongbuk (47.80%). Consequently, the fact that all Supreme Council members of Lee Jae-myung's second term were elected from the Seoul metropolitan area further deepened the disappointment among Honam residents.

Within the Democratic Party, some have emphasized unity. Representative Park Ji-won said, "The Joguk Innovation Party should unite to make Representative Lee Jae-myung president," adding, "Now is not the time for competition but for unity to focus on regime change."