[Issue] Wando County Governor Race Heats Up... Seven-Way Contest Marked by Turbulence

Vacancy Left by Three-Term Limit for Governor Woo Cheol Shin, Wando Emerges as South Jeolla’s Fiercest Battleground
Intense Competition for Differentiation Among Candidates
Legal Disputes Add to the Heated Race
Democratic Party Nomination Equals Victory
Abalone Industry Stagnation and Regional Depopulation Among Key Issues

As the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June next year draw near, the race for Wando County Governor in South Jeolla Province is emerging as the region's most fiercely contested battleground.

With the incumbent Governor Woo Cheol Shin stepping down due to the three-term limit, the position will effectively become vacant. The initial pool of eight potential candidates has now been reduced to seven after Younggyun Shin, former Director of the Economic and Industrial Bureau of Wando County, announced his decision not to run.

However, with about half a year remaining until the election, various issues-including lawsuits and reinvestigations involving some candidates-have already surfaced, making the campaign landscape increasingly contentious.

(From top left) Shin Kim, former Wando County Council member; Eui-Jun Shin, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member; Cheol Lee, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member; Hongseop Woo, former Jindo County Deputy Governor; Youngbae Ji, former Director of Jeonnam Provincial Office; Seguk Kim, former Auditor of Jeonnam Province; Gunghee Heo, Wando County Council member; Younggyun Shin, former Director of Wando County Office

◆Eui-Jun Shin and Cheol Lee: Wando-born Provincial Assembly Members... A Subtle Relationship of Cooperation and Competition

The relationship between Eui-Jun Shin and Cheol Lee, both Jeonnam Provincial Assembly members originally from Wando, is drawing attention. As representatives of Wando County, they have cooperated on key local issues such as the construction of bridges connecting islands, resolving drinking water shortages in island regions, and responding to maritime boundary disputes.

In particular, Eui-Jun Shin led the response to the jurisdictional dispute over the waters near Jangsu Island with Jeju Province, serving as the head of the Wando Sea Guardians Countermeasure Committee. Meanwhile, Cheol Lee, as Vice Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, actively pushed for the construction of bridges and the expansion of the regional water supply system for Wando’s island areas.

The local political community notes that while the two have been collaborators on Wando’s issues, they are now facing each other as rivals in the county governor race, creating a subtle sense of tension. Since both are former provincial assembly members representing the 1st and 2nd electoral districts of Wando, respectively, their local support bases overlap, making the competition for votes particularly intense.

◆Legal Disputes Surrounding Some Candidates... Police and Prosecutors Conducting Investigations

Legal battles involving some candidates have emerged as a key variable in the election. Recently, a former provincial assembly member running for governor reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against an individual affiliated with a certain media outlet. The dispute, which centers on allegations related to a breakwater project and text messages, has escalated to legal action, and the police are currently investigating.

Additionally, the spouse of another candidate has also been sued and questioned by the police. After the police investigation, the case was sent to the prosecution, which has now requested a reinvestigation.

Another candidate reportedly faced a police investigation over allegations related to his tenure as deputy governor. Although he was cleared of charges, the issue remains unresolved, and depending on how it is concluded, it could impact the election dynamics.

◆Shin Kim, Leading in Polls... Fourth Attempt Demonstrates Unyielding Determination

Shin Kim, former Wando County Council member, is making his fourth bid for county governor. Drawing on eight years of experience as a council member and over 20 years in politics, he expressed strong determination, stating, "Despite three defeats, I cannot give up on my dream for Wando and the dream of Jang Bogo."

It is noteworthy that Shin Kim has consistently ranked first in various recent opinion polls. Local political observers attribute his high recognition to his leading position in the polls.

According to the combined results of multiple local polling agencies, Shin Kim is leading with a support rate of 20-25 percent, followed by Eui-Jun Shin, Cheol Lee, Hongseop Woo (former deputy governor), and Youngbae Ji (former director), who are competing closely in the 2nd to 5th positions.

◆Eui-Jun Shin, Strong Grassroots Organization... Emphasizing Expertise in Fisheries

Eui-Jun Shin, who previously chaired the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, is regarded as a practical, field-oriented candidate with a solid grassroots network. Highlighting his expertise in strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries industry and handling maritime boundary disputes, he is campaigning under the slogan, "Wando thrives when fisheries thrive."

Shin is focusing on policies such as sharing the burden with abalone farmers and constructing bridges, emphasizing a hands-on approach. His close-knit network with local organizations is seen as a key differentiator from his competitors.

By age group, Shin is receiving strong interest from voters in their 30s and 40s, which is attributed to his pledges to attract young people and address the risk of regional depopulation.

◆Cheol Lee, Strong Drive... Close Ties with Former Assemblyman Park Jie-won

Cheol Lee has built a high profile in the region through his strong drive and field-oriented leadership. On September 20, he effectively declared his candidacy by holding a publication event for his book, "Cheol Lee’s Promise," at the Wando Culture and Arts Center.

Notably, Lee is reportedly leveraging his relationship with former National Assembly member Park Jie-won as a major element of his campaign strategy.

In opinion polls, Cheol Lee ranks in the 3rd to 4th positions and enjoys relatively broad support among voters aged 50 and above.

◆Hongseop Woo, Former Deputy Governor, Strength in Government Organization

Hongseop Woo, former Jindo County Deputy Governor and a native of Wando, is highlighting his organizational strength built over 31 years in public service after passing the 7th-grade civil service exam. His extensive administrative experience and deep network, especially within the civil service community, are considered his main competitive advantages.

Woo is reportedly presenting the most practical, field-oriented policies as an administrative expert. Analysts suggest he is aiming for a turnaround based on his organizational and practical capabilities.

Although Woo currently ranks in the 4th to 5th positions in polls, he is receiving relatively strong support among voters aged 60 and above and among former civil servants, indicating that his recognition may increase in the future.

◆Youngbae Ji, Former Director, Key Role in Establishing Korea Energy Engineering University... Strong Central Government Network

Youngbae Ji, former Director of Jeonnam Province, played a key role in establishing Korea Energy Engineering University, making his experience in leading large-scale national projects a major asset. His career, which spans both central ministries and local governments, is highly regarded for policy planning capabilities. Having recently formalized his candidacy, he has now officially joined the race.

However, securing broad local recognition and organizational strength remains a challenge. He currently ranks in the 5th to 6th positions in polls, with a certain level of support among highly educated professionals in their 40s and 50s.

◆Seguk Kim, Former Auditor, Emphasizing Integrity and Expertise in a Head-to-Head Contest

Seguk Kim, former Auditor of Jeonnam Province and a successful civil service exam candidate, is presenting himself as an administrator with integrity and expertise, having worked for the Board of Audit and Inspection and Jeonnam Province.

He has already formalized his candidacy by announcing specific pledges, such as establishing a fisheries convergence industrial complex and promoting unique township festivals.

While administrative expertise is his strength, how much he can compensate for his relatively weak local organizational base is a key point to watch. He is currently ranked between 5th and 7th in polls and is appealing to older voters in their 60s and above who value integrity and principles.

◆Gunghee Heo, Incumbent County Council Member, Leveraging the Advantages of Office

Gunghee Heo, the current Wando County Council member, is also expected to run for governor. While his ability to understand current issues based on legislative experience is seen as a strength, some point out that presenting a vision distinct from other candidates is crucial.

Heo is ranked between 5th and 7th in polls, and expanding his support base built through local council activities remains a challenge.

◆Younggyun Shin Withdraws from Race... Election Landscape Reshaped

Younggyun Shin, former Director of the Economic and Industrial Bureau of Wando County, was considered a veteran with 35 years of experience in both central and local government. However, his recent announcement to withdraw from the race has reshaped the contest into a seven-way battle. Despite actively promoting the vision of a "Global Ocean City Wando," he ultimately decided not to run.

◆Democratic Party Nomination Is Virtually a Win... Fisheries Crisis and Population Decline Are Key Issues

Wando is traditionally a stronghold for the Democratic Party, and it is widely believed that securing the party nomination is tantamount to winning the general election. Responding to the stagnation of the abalone industry, attracting young people, and overcoming the risk of regional extinction have emerged as core issues.

The current candidates can be categorized as administrative experts (Seguk Kim, Youngbae Ji, Hongseop Woo) and those with accumulated political experience (Shin Kim, Eui-Jun Shin, Cheol Lee, Gunghee Heo), each seeking to differentiate themselves by emphasizing their strengths. However, there is keen interest in how ongoing legal disputes and reinvestigation issues involving some candidates will affect the nomination process going forward.

A local political insider commented, "With the competition for the nomination expected to be as fierce as the general election, and with additional controversies, voters' decisions will be more difficult than ever. The key to the race will be the differentiated campaign strategies of the other candidates targeting the current frontrunner, Shin Kim."

Another local source added, "Depending on how the legal issues surrounding some candidates are resolved, the race could shift dramatically. The voices of voters demanding a clean election are louder than ever."