[Current Affairs Show] North Jeolla Governor... Will Kim Kwanyoung Face Ahn Hoyoung in a Rematch? [2026 Local Elections] ⑩

Kim Kwanyoung Likely to Seek Re-Election
Ahn Hoyoung, Lee Wontak, and Jeong Heonryul Join the Race
Primary Campaigns Begin with Banners and Early Moves

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

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

Editor's NoteThe 9th local elections will be held on June 3 next year. While it may seem far away, it is not. Behind the scenes, the local election race has already begun. In particular, next year's local elections draw attention as they will take place just one year into the Lee Jaemyung administration. Key points of interest include how the current map of metropolitan mayors and governors-currently 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 power, and whether the People Power Party can hold onto Seoul and Busan. The Asia Business Daily's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' has examined which figures are being discussed as candidates for metropolitan mayor and governor positions. ① Seoul Mayor ② Gyeonggi Governor ③ Busan Mayor ④ Incheon Mayor ⑤ South Chungcheong Governor ⑥ North Chungcheong Governor ⑦ South Gyeongsang Governor ⑧ Gwangju Mayor ⑨ South Jeolla Governor ⑩ North Jeolla Governor

North Jeolla Province is a stronghold for the Democratic Party. In both the 2022 and 2025 presidential elections, Lee Jaemyung received more than 80% of the vote. As a result, the primary is more fiercely contested than the general election. The behind-the-scenes campaign has already heated up.

In the 2022 presidential election, Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, received 82.98% of the vote. Yoon Sukyeol, the People Power Party candidate, garnered only 14.42%. The results of the 8th local elections held that year were similar. Kim Kwanyoung, the Democratic Party candidate, received 82.11%, while Cho Bae-sook, the People Power Party candidate, received 17.88%. The two candidates, who had previously served together in the National Assembly as members of the People’s Party, ran against each other after taking different political paths. In the 2024 National Assembly elections, Democratic Party candidates won in all ten constituencies in the region. This trend continued in the most recent June 3 presidential election. Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party received 82.7%, Kim Moonsoo of the People Power Party received 10.9%, and Lee Junseok of the Reform Party received 5.5% of the vote.

Kim Kwanyoung, the current North Jeolla Governor, is aiming for re-election. In the 2022 primary, he defeated two incumbent lawmakers, Kim Yoonduk and Ahn Hoyoung, to secure the Democratic Party nomination, making him the youngest among the 17 metropolitan mayors and governors elected that year. Formerly a member of the People’s Party, he returned to the Democratic Party and, within just a few months, overcame strong contenders to win the governorship. Having served two terms as a lawmaker, Governor Kim has passed the certified public accountant, civil service, and bar exams, drawing attention from early on. He is leveraging the advantages of being an incumbent governor and his experience in national politics in his bid for re-election. Criticisms have been raised regarding the disruption of the World Scout Jamboree, the lack of significant achievements at the Asia Pacific Masters Games in North Jeolla, the failure to achieve the integration of Jeonju and Wanju, and the inability to establish the Saemangeum Special Local Government. Whether he can wisely overcome these challenges will be crucial for his path to re-election.

The main challenger to Governor Kim is Ahn Hoyoung, a three-term lawmaker and chairman of the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee. In the 2022 Democratic Party primary, Ahn ran against Governor Kim but was defeated. Attention is focused on whether a rematch will take place. Ahn, who passed the bar exam and worked as a lawyer, entered politics in 2016. Under the leadership of Lee Jaemyung, he has served as head of the political advisory group, chief spokesperson, and senior vice chair of the policy committee. Representing Wanju, Jinan, and Muju, he has opposed the integration of Jeonju and Wanju. How he will win the support of Jeonju, which has a large population, is expected to be a key factor in the election.

Another challenger is Lee Wontak, a two-term lawmaker. Lee has served as a Blue House administrator, Jeonju city councilor, and vice governor for political affairs of North Jeolla Province. On the 13th, he held a press conference to announce his candidacy. Jeong Heonryul, the three-term mayor of Iksan, has also effectively formalized his bid. Having passed the 24th civil service exam, he served as a director at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and as vice governor of North Jeolla Province before becoming mayor of Iksan in 2016. Mayor Jeong has put up holiday greeting banners throughout North Jeolla and held a town hall meeting at Iksan City Hall on the 25th to discuss local issues.

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The activities of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party are also drawing attention. On the 25th of last month, Emergency Committee Chairman Cho Kuk visited North Jeolla and held a closed-door meeting with key party members. Although the recent momentum of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party has not been strong, it recorded a party approval rating of 45.5% in North Jeolla during the last general election, higher than the Democratic Party’s 37.6%. How the political landscape will change next year, and which candidate the Cho Kuk Innovation Party will nominate, are also key points to watch in the North Jeolla gubernatorial race. There has been no clear movement yet from the People Power Party.