Gangwon Governor...Will Woo Sangho or Lee Kwangjae Challenge Kim Jintae? [2026 Local Elections]⑪

Lee Kwangjae, Song Kiheon, Heo Young, and Kim Wan-seop Also Mentioned as Potential Candidates
Strong Conservative Trend Since the 2022 Presidential Election
Attention on the Impact of Kwon Seongdong's Arrest

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

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Producer: Park Sumin

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. Next year's elections are particularly noteworthy as they will be held just one year after the Lee Jaemyung administration took office. Key points of interest include how the current map of metropolitan governors-currently 11 for the People Power Party and 5 for the Democratic Party-will change, whether the Democratic Party will secure local power in addition to legislative and executive power, and whether the People Power Party will be able to defend Seoul and Busan. The Asia Business Daily's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' examined which figures are being discussed as potential metropolitan governor candidates: 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 ⑪ Gangwon Governor

Who are the potential candidates for Gangwon Governor in the 2026 local elections? Looking at recent election results, Gangwon Province is generally considered a conservative stronghold. However, since this election will be held just one year after the Lee Jaemyung administration took office, it is too early to predict the outcome.

In the 2022 presidential election, where Lee Jaemyung and Yoon Sukyeol faced off, Yoon led by more than 12%. Yoon received 54.18% of the vote, while Lee garnered 41.72%. The People Power Party's dominance continued in that year's local elections. In the gubernatorial race, Kim Jintae of the People Power Party ran against Lee Kwangjae of the Democratic Party, with Kim emerging victorious. Kim received 54.07% of the vote, while Lee received 45.92%. In the mayoral races for basic local governments, the People Power Party won in 14 areas, while the Democratic Party managed to secure victories in only 4.

What about the 2024 National Assembly elections? The overall trend remained largely unchanged. Of the eight constituencies, the People Power Party won in six, while the Democratic Party won in two. In this year's presidential election, the People Power Party also led. Kim Moonsoo of the People Power Party received 47.3% of the vote, outpacing Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party, who received 44%, by 3.3 percentage points. Considering the 7.7% of the vote won by Lee Junseok of the Reform New Party, the results are nearly identical to those of the 2022 presidential election for Yoon.

Who are the figures vying for the position of Gangwon Governor? Among the ruling party, Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, is considered a leading candidate. Born in 1962 in Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon, he attended Dongsong Elementary School before moving to Seoul in the sixth grade. He graduated from Yongmun High School and Yonsei University with a degree in Korean Literature. He served as president of the Yonsei University Student Council and was elected four times as a lawmaker for Seodaemun-gap, Seoul. During the last presidential election, he served as the head of the Gangwon regional campaign for the Lee Jaemyung camp, traveling extensively throughout the province. He even cast his early vote in Yanggu, Gangwon. On September 12, when President Lee Jaemyung held a town hall meeting in Chuncheon, Gangwon, Woo made an unusual appearance by accompanying him on site.

The moves of former National Assembly Secretary-General Lee Kwangjae are also drawing attention. Having served as a lawmaker, Gangwon Governor, and Secretary-General of the National Assembly, he was a close aide to former President Roh Moo-hyun. After losing the gubernatorial race as the Democratic Party candidate in 2022, he ran in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, in the 2024 general election but was defeated by Assemblyman Ahn Cheolsoo.

There are also rumors that three-term lawmaker Song Kiheon (Wonju-eul) may run. Song is a classmate of President Lee Jaemyung, Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho, and Gangwon Governor Kim Jintae from the 18th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He entered politics after working as a prosecutor and lawyer. The name of two-term lawmaker Heo Young (Chuncheon-gap) has also been mentioned. Heo, from Yanggu, Gangwon, graduated from Gangwon High School and Korea University. After serving as president of the Korea University Student Council, he began his political career as an aide to Assemblyman Kim Geuntae. During the last presidential election, he served as the head of the Gangwon Special Advisory Group for Lee Jaemyung's campaign.

There are also rumors of a possible run by Kim Dokyun, chairman of the Gangwon Provincial Democratic Party. Born in Sokcho, he has served as Commander of the Capital Defense Command and as chief delegate at inter-Korean general-level talks.

※Click the video to watch the full content.

On the People Power Party side, aside from Gangwon Governor Kim Jintae, there are no standout candidates. Having served two terms as a lawmaker in his hometown of Chuncheon, Governor Kim is leveraging his incumbency to actively promote his achievements in office as he seeks re-election.

Former Minister of Environment Kim Wan-seop is considered a possible independent candidate.

Ultimately, the key point to watch in next year's Gangwon gubernatorial election is whether Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, will enter the race. If he does, the timing of his entry will also be of interest. Another point to monitor is how the arrest of five-term lawmaker Kwon Seongdong from Gangneung will impact the People Power Party.