'Conservative Stronghold' Remains... People Power Party Leads in Gyeongnam in Presidential Election

Lee Jae Myung 39.40%, Kim Moon Soo 51.99%
Vote Gap of 12.59%
Lead Only in Gimhae and Geoje

In the 21st presidential election, Lee Jae Myung of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected president, while in Gyeongnam, more than half of the votes were cast for the People Power Party candidate.

According to the National Election Commission, Lee Jae Myung, the elected candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, received 851,733 votes in Gyeongnam, recording a vote share of 39.40%.

Kim Moon Soo, the People Power Party candidate, received 1,120,343 votes, achieving a vote share of 51.99%, which is a 12.59 percentage point difference compared to Lee.

Lee Jae Myung, the elected candidate, speaking at the intensive campaign rally at the Fountain Square in Sangnam-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryeong

Lee Jun Seok of the Reform New Party received 161,579 votes, accounting for 7.47% of the vote; Kwon Young Guk of the Democratic Labor Party received 21,809 votes, or 1.00%; and independent candidate Song Jin Ho received 2,678 votes, amounting to 0.12%.

Among the ballots, 18,347 were invalid due to either not stamping the ballot or marking it incorrectly, and the number of abstentions was counted at 596,039.

During the intensive campaign rally at the Fountain Square in Sangnam-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, elected Lee Jae-myung and People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo are seen. Photo by Lee Seryung

By region, the People Power Party candidate led in most of the 18 cities and counties in the province.

In Gimhae, Lee received 47.79% while Kim received 42.78%; in Geoje, Lee received 47.50% while Kim received 43.68%. However, in the remaining areas, Lee did not secure a lead.

Even in Yangsan, where former President Moon Jae In's private residence is located, Lee received 44.69% while Kim received 46.65%. In Seongsan, Changwon, the constituency of Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Sung Moo, the Democratic Party candidate received 41.09% while the People Power Party candidate received 47.41%.

Song Sunho, the permanent election campaign committee chairman of Gyeongnam Province and the chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with officials from the provincial party election camp, are cheering while watching the exit poll results. Provided by the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongnam Provincial Party

Although the results in the region fell somewhat short, the Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Democratic Party, which produced the 21st president, evaluated, "Even in Gyeongnam, we recorded the highest vote share in the history of presidential elections."

After Lee's victory was confirmed, the provincial party stated, "Through this election, we have once again confirmed that Gyeongnam is not a conservative stronghold, but rather the home of the spirit of democracy and the legacy of the Buma Democratic Uprising and the March 15 Uprising."

The party added, "Together with the president-elect's government of popular sovereignty, we will do our utmost to fulfill regional pledges and achieve balanced development in Gyeongnam," and further promised, "We will not become complacent with the election result, but will instead listen more humbly and attentively to the demands of the residents."