Confirmed Candidates for Gokseong County Governor... Outline of 10·16 By-Election Matchup

Democratic Party and Joguk Innovation Party Compete Fiercely in Jeonnam Gokseong and Yeonggwang
Busan Geumjeong District Mayor Election... Opposition Unity Acts as a Variable
Incheon Ganghwa County Governor... Conservative Strength Strong but Independent Candidacy Draws Attention

On the 23rd, the People Power Party nominated party member Choi Bong-ui as the candidate for the Gokseong County Governor in the upcoming October 16 by-election, revealing the lineup for the local government head elections held in four locations. According to the National Election Commission, candidate registration applications will be accepted from the 26th to the 27th, and early voting will take place from November 11 to 12.

Gokseong County Governor in Jeonnam... Fierce Competition Between the Democratic Party and the Party for National Innovation

(From left) Jo Sang-rae, Democratic Party candidate; Choi Bong-ui, People Power Party candidate; Park Woong-du, Party for National Innovation candidate; Lee Seong-ro, Independent candidate

Traditionally a stronghold of progressive tendencies, the Jeonnam Gokseong County Governor election is expected to see a fierce contest between the Democratic Party and the Party for National Innovation, with four candidates competing. The Democratic Party has nominated former Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member Cho Sang-rae as its candidate. This marks Cho's third attempt at the Gokseong County Governor position. The Party for National Innovation has put forward Park Woong-du, a recruited talent, who passed the primary and became the final candidate. Park previously served as the head of the Gokseong Education Hope Alliance and currently chairs the Party for National Innovation's Agriculture and Fisheries Committee. The People Power Party confirmed mid-sized company executive Choi Bong-ui as its candidate for Gokseong County Governor. Additionally, independent candidate Lee Seong-ro, director of the Gokseong Future Research Institute, is expected to run.

Yeonggwang County Governor in Jeonnam... No Candidate Yet from People Power Party, Six-Way Race Expected

(From left) Jang Se-il, Democratic Party candidate; Jang Hyun, Party for National Innovation candidate; Lee Seok-ha, Progressive Party candidate; Oh Ki-won, Independent candidate; Kim Ki-yeol, Independent candidate

Similar to Gokseong in Jeonnam, the Yeonggwang County Governor election is fiercely contested by the Democratic Party and the Party for National Innovation, with six candidates competing. The Democratic Party has nominated Jang Se-il, a former Yeonggwang County Council member and Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member, emphasizing his strong local organizational strength. The Party for National Innovation has put forward Jang Hyun, who recently left the Democratic Party. Jang previously ran against former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon in the 16th National Assembly election. Other candidates include Lee Seok-ha from the Progressive Party and independents Oh Ki-won and Kim Gi-yeol, all vying for the Yeonggwang County Governor position. The People Power Party has not yet finalized its candidate for Yeonggwang County Governor. Once the nomination is complete, a six-way race including independent candidates is expected.

Strong Conservative Forces in Busan Geumjeong District Mayor Election... Democratic Party and Party for National Innovation Unification a Variable

(From left) Yoon Il-hyun, People Power Party candidate; Kim Kyung-ji, Democratic Party candidate; Ryu Je-sung, Party for National Innovation candidate

Busan's Geumjeong District is a region with strong conservative forces, making a victory for the People Power Party likely. Baek Jong-heon, the current National Assembly member for Geumjeong District, was re-elected as a member of the People Power Party, and the late former Geumjeong District Mayor Kim Jae-yoon, who served as mayor, was also affiliated with the People Power Party. However, the unification between the Democratic Party and the Party for National Innovation could affect voter sentiment. The People Power Party previously confirmed former Busan City Council member Yoon Il-hyun as its candidate for Geumjeong District Mayor.

The Democratic Party strategically nominated Kim Kyung-ji, former head of the Geumjeong regional committee, to counter the People Power Party's strategy to retain the Geumjeong District Mayor position. The Party for National Innovation has nominated Ryu Je-seong and is demanding unification with the Democratic Party. Since the Party for National Innovation did not field a candidate in the Incheon Ganghwa County Governor election, the intention is to increase the chances of victory in the Geumjeong District Mayor election, which favors the People Power Party, through unification between the two parties. Negotiations for unification between the two parties have not progressed and tensions are escalating. Meanwhile, the Reform Party also planned to focus on the Geumjeong District Mayor position in the October 16 by-election but is reportedly still searching for a suitable candidate.

Incheon Ganghwa, Baek Jun-young's Constituency... Three-Term Lawmaker and Former Mayor Ahn Sang-soo Runs as Independent After Leaving Party

(From left) Park Yong-chul, People Power Party candidate; Han Yeon-hee, Democratic Party candidate; Ahn Sang-soo, Independent candidate; Kim Byung-yeon, Independent candidate

The Incheon Ganghwa County Governor election is also dominated by conservative forces, making it favorable for the People Power Party. This is because Baek Jun-young, the party's floor deputy leader, was re-elected in this area. The People Power Party nominated former Incheon City Council member Park Yong-chul as its candidate for Ganghwa County Governor. However, a variable is former Mayor Ahn Sang-soo, who served as Incheon mayor during the 3rd and 4th terms and was a three-term National Assembly member representing Ganghwa, who left the People Power Party and is running as an independent. The Democratic Party nominated Han Yeon-hee, former deputy mayor of Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province. Independent candidate Kim Byung-yeon is also preparing for the election, making a four-way race expected for the Ganghwa County Governor position.