[Current Affairs Show] South Jeolla Governor... Seo Samsuk, Shin Jeonghoon, Lee Gyeho, and Joo Cheolhyeon Challenge Kim Youngrok [2026 Local Elections] ⑨

Kim Youngrok Likely to Seek Third Term as South Jeolla Governor
Shin Jeonghoon and Lee Gyeho Show Strong Interest in Running
Attention Also on Whether Reform Innovation Party Will Field a Candidate

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Monday to Friday, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Producer: Lee Kyungdo

Editor's NoteThe 9th local elections will be held on June 3 next year, just about nine months away. While it may seem like there is still plenty of time, that is not the case. Behind the scenes, the local election race has already begun. Next year's local elections are particularly noteworthy as they will take place just one year after the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Key points of interest include whether the current map of metropolitan governors-11 from the People Power Party and 5 from the Democratic Party-will change, whether the Democratic Party will secure local power in addition to legislative and administrative control, and whether the People Power Party can hold onto Seoul. The Asia Business Daily's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' has looked into which figures are being discussed as candidates for metropolitan governor positions: ① Mayor of Seoul ② Governor of Gyeonggi ③ Mayor of Busan ④ Mayor of Incheon ⑤ Governor of South Chungcheong ⑥ Governor of North Chungcheong ⑦ Governor of South Gyeongsang ⑧ Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City ⑨ Governor of South Jeolla

For the South Jeolla governor race, the primary is effectively the main event. Due to the region's characteristics, the Democratic Party candidate has a high chance of winning. The results of past elections speak for themselves, which is why the race has already heated up. In the 2022 presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung received 86.10% of the vote, while People Power Party candidate Yoon Sukyeol only garnered 11.44%. The same trend was seen in the 2022 local elections, where Democratic Party candidate Kim Youngrok won the South Jeolla governor race with 75.74% of the vote, defeating People Power Party candidate Lee Junghyun, who received just 18.81%. For basic local government heads, Democratic Party candidates won in 15 areas, and independent candidates won in 7; the People Power Party did not secure any victories. The 2024 general election was no different, with Democratic Party candidates winning all 10 constituencies in South Jeolla. In this year's presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung again received 85.9% of the vote, while People Power Party candidate Kim Moonsoo received 8.5%, and Reform New Party candidate Lee Junseok received 4.7%.

Who are the expected candidates running for South Jeolla governor? About five names are being mentioned. It is almost certain that Governor Kim Youngrok will seek a third term. Whether Governor Kim will succeed in his third-term bid is the first key point to watch in the South Jeolla governor race. Since the revival of local autonomy in 1995, former Governor Park Junyoung is the only one to have served three terms as South Jeolla governor, but he entered office through a by-election. If Kim Youngrok wins a third term next year, he will become the first South Jeolla governor to achieve a full three terms. Hailing from Wando, Governor Kim faces the challenge of expanding his support base in the eastern part of South Jeolla, including Yeosu. Overcoming voter fatigue regarding his third-term challenge is also an important task.

Assemblyman Seo Samsuk, a three-term lawmaker who previously served as governor of Muan County, currently chairs the Democratic Party's Special Committee for Honam Development. With Yeongam, Muan, and Shinan as his constituencies, he wields considerable influence in the western part of South Jeolla. Although his candidacy is being discussed, he has not yet made his position clear. Assemblyman Shin Jeonghun, who recently held a party members' unity rally, effectively declared his intention to run for South Jeolla governor by stating, "(My constituency) Naju and Hwasun must become the starting point for political innovation in South Jeolla and the center of greater progress." Having served two terms as mayor of Naju and now in his third term as an assemblyman, Shin currently chairs the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.

Four-term assemblyman Lee Gaeho, who has served as Vice Governor of South Jeolla and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has also expressed strong interest, stating that "the governor of South Jeolla is a position for work." A native of Damyang and a former Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, he previously showed interest in running for governor in the 2018 election but withdrew. It was a painful setback for the Democratic Party when their candidate lost and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party's candidate won in the Damyang County by-election this past April.

Attention is also focused on whether two-term assemblyman Joo Cheolhyeon, a native of Yeosu and a leading figure in the eastern part of South Jeolla, will run. Since most South Jeolla governors have come from the western region, if public opinion forms that it is time for an eastern region candidate, he could have an advantage. He previously served as mayor of Yeosu and is currently the head of the South Jeolla Provincial Party Committee. During the 20th presidential election, he was the only one among the 10 Democratic Party assembly members in South Jeolla to support Lee Jaemyung, and he is raising his profile by criticizing Governor Kim.

From the People Power Party, Kim Hwajin, the head of the South Jeolla Provincial Party Committee, is expected to run.

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Among local residents, there is also a critical view regarding how much the Democratic Party's monopoly has contributed to regional development. For this reason, there was talk that if the Cho Kuk Innovation Party fielded a strong candidate, the race could be competitive, but this view has recently lost momentum. If the Cho Kuk Innovation Party's approval rating becomes competitive early next year, it could become a concern for the Democratic Party. In this context, attention should also be paid to which candidate the Cho Kuk Innovation Party nominates. Another key point to watch is whether the primary process can be managed smoothly without any fallout.