Assemblyman Won Kim Registers as Sole Candidate for Democratic Party South Jeolla Provincial Chairperson

Gye-Won Cho Withdraws Candidacy,
Pledges to "Secure Victory in Next Year's Local Elections"

Won Kim, Member of the National Assembly

Assemblyman Won Kim (Mokpo, South Jeolla Province) will run unopposed in the by-election for the Democratic Party's South Jeolla Provincial Party Chairperson. Assemblyman Gye-Won Cho (Yeosu-eul, South Jeolla Province), who was initially a rival candidate, announced he would not run, citing the need for party unity in South Jeolla and the goal of winning next year's local elections.

According to the Democratic Party's South Jeolla Provincial Party on October 27, Assemblyman Gye-Won Cho issued a press release on this day, stating, "I respect Assemblyman Won Kim's decision to serve as the provincial party chairperson only for the remainder of the former chairperson Cheol-Hyun Joo's term, which lasts until the first half of next year." He officially withdrew his candidacy for the Democratic Party's South Jeolla Provincial Party Chairperson election.

Assemblyman Cho explained that after declaring his candidacy on October 21 and preparing for the election, he became concerned that some provincial residents and party members might perceive the process as causing conflict and division.

With Assemblyman Cho not participating in the primary, Assemblyman Won Kim will be the sole candidate in this election, which will proceed with a vote of party members for or against his candidacy. The vote will be held over two days, from October 31 to November 1, and will be conducted online for eligible party members.

The Provincial Party Election Commission has made some changes to the voting schedule and method due to the registration of a single candidate. For any additional changes needed to ensure smooth election operations, authority has been delegated to the chairperson of the Provincial Party Election Commission.

Voting rights for this temporary party convention will be granted to party members who joined by March 31, 2025, and have paid party dues at least six times between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.