Democratic Party's June 3 Presidential Campaign Committee Sees Major Participation from Gwangju and Jeonnam Figures

Key Senior Figures from the Region Appointed to Core Positions
All Lawmakers Take on Election Committee Roles
Jung Jinwook and Lim Sunsook Couple Participate Together
Organization-Centered Election Strategy in Full Operation

As the Democratic Party of Korea announced its appointments for the presidential election campaign committee and entered a full-scale election mode, figures from Gwangju and Jeonnam?including former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun Kyung, as well as lawmakers Park Jiwon and Shin Junghoon?have been appointed to key positions, drawing significant attention from the local political community.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung is giving a speech at the launch ceremony of the Democratic Party's 21st presidential election 'Real Republic of Korea' Central Election Countermeasures Committee held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul on the 30th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Democratic Party and local political sources on May 1, the party emphasized an integrative approach in its first round of appointments for the 'Real Republic of Korea Central Election Countermeasures Committee,' making selections that transcend factional and ideological lines. The balanced allocation of figures from Gwangju and Jeonnam stands out, and there is an assessment that the shortage of prominent figures from the Honam region, which emerged during the last presidential primary, has been somewhat resolved.

The most notable appointment is former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun Kyung, who was named chief standing election committee chair. A native of Gwangju, Jeong graduated from Jeonnam Girls’ High School and Seoul National University College of Medicine. During the Moon Jae In administration, she served as the inaugural commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, overseeing the COVID-19 response. Despite repeated recruitment offers from the political sphere, Jeong had previously chosen to return to the field, but with this campaign committee appointment, she has officially entered politics.

Five-term lawmaker Park Jiwon (representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo in Jeonnam) has taken on three roles: co-chief election committee chair, campaign committee advisor, and regional chair for Gwangju and Jeonnam. Former lawmaker Chung Dong Young (Jeonbuk) has also joined as a co-chief election committee chair, sharing the representation of the Honam region.

From the top left: Park Jiwon, Shin Junghoon, Yang Bunam, Jung Jinwook, Ahn Dogul, Min Hyungbae, Jeon Jinsook, Joo Chulhyun.

Shin Junghoon (representing Naju and Hwasun in Jeonnam), appointed as head of the campaign committee’s organization headquarters, will play a key role in coordinating strategy between the central and regional organizations. Shin stated, "I feel a great sense of responsibility regarding the significance of this election in bringing about the complete end of insurrectionist forces," and added, "I will develop the Democratic Party’s winning strategy through a field-centered, livelihood-focused approach."

Lawmaker Jung Jinwook (Gwangju Dongnam-gap) and his spouse, former Supreme Council member Lim Sunsook, have drawn attention with their respective appointments as chief secretary in the standing chief election committee chair’s office and head of the candidate’s spouse office. Jung, known as a core supporter of candidate Lee Jae Myung for many years, will handle parliamentary affairs, while Lim will oversee operations of the candidate’s spouse office.

There are also appointments involving cousins. Lawmaker Ahn Dogul (Gwangju Dongnam-eul) has been named chair of the Industrial Crisis Area Revitalization Committee within the Jalsanism Committee, while his cousin Ahn Jingul, head of the People’s Livelihood Economy Research Institute, will serve as chair of the Working- and Middle-Class Economy Revitalization Committee.

On the 30th of last month, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, participants including presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung and standing chief election committee chairs Yoon Yeo Joon and Park Chan Dae took a commemorative photo at the launch ceremony of the Democratic Party of Korea's 21st presidential election 'Real Republic of Korea' Central Election Countermeasures Committee. Photo by Yonhap News

Lawmaker Min Hyungbae (Gwangju Gwangsan-eul) has been appointed as chair of the K-Initiative Committee directly under the candidate, and lawmaker Jeon Jinsook (Gwangju Bukgu-eul) will serve as head of the Alley Situation Office and chair of the Childcare Committee. All 18 incumbent lawmakers representing constituencies in Gwangju and Jeonnam have taken on campaign committee roles, establishing a fully mobilized regional base.

Other key appointments of Gwangju and Jeonnam lawmakers and figures include: Cho Gye Won (chair of the Sports Committee), Lee Gae Ho (chair of the Kkumsa-nism Committee), Kim Won Yi (chair of the Future Strategic Industry Development Planning Committee), Moon Geum Ju (deputy head of the Organization Headquarters), Seo Sam Seok (head of the Agriculture and Fisheries Headquarters), Jung Jun Ho (deputy head of the Rapid Response Division), Park Kyun Taek (deputy head of the Fair Election Legal Support Division), Kim Moon Soo (head of the Campaign Headquarters), Kwon Hyang Yeop (head of the Women’s Headquarters), and Cho In Cheol (chair of the K-Integrated Society Committee).

At the regional level, Yang Bunam (Gwangju) and Joo Chulhyun (Jeonnam), as city and provincial party chairs, will each oversee their respective regional campaign committees. The advisory group includes not only lawmaker Park Jiwon but also former Gwangju Mayor Park Gwang Tae and former lawmakers Chung Dong Chae and Bae Gi Sun.

Many figures from Gwangju and Jeonnam are also present in the central campaign committee. Lawmaker Lee Hae Sik has been appointed as chief of staff to the candidate, Hwang Hee as chair of the Housing Welfare Committee, Kim Tae Nyon as chair of the Pyunsanism Committee, Choi Ki Sang as deputy head of the Fair Election Legal Support Division, Lee Geon Tae as legal spokesperson, Hwang Jeong Ah as chair of the Science and Technology Innovation Committee, and Park Sun Won as deputy head of the Strategy Headquarters.