[June 3 Local Elections] ⑭Democratic Party Stronghold 'Gwangju'... Fierce Primaries Expected Ahead of Main Race

Democratic Party-Affiliated Candidates Have Won Every Election

In every local election to date, Gwangju City has elected a mayor from a party affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea. However, except for former Mayor Park Gwangtae, no incumbent mayor has ever been re-nominated, reflecting the fierce internal competition in the primaries.

◇ Performance of Past Mayors of Gwangju = Even when independent or third-party movements gained traction in the Honam region, the mayoralty of Gwangju consistently went to a candidate from a Democratic Party-affiliated party. In the first local election, Song Eonjong of the Democratic Party won with 89.71% of the vote. In the second local election, Ko Jaeyu of the National Congress for New Politics won with 67.20%. In the third and fourth elections, former Mayor Park Gwangtae was elected consecutively. In the fifth election, Kang Un-tae of the Democratic Party won with 56.73%. In the sixth election, Yoon Janghyun of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy secured victory with 57.85%. In the seventh election, Lee Yongseop of the Democratic Party achieved a landslide with 84.07%. In the eighth election, Kang Gijung of the Democratic Party won with 74.91%.

◇ Who Are the Potential Candidates? = For the Democratic Party, the potential candidates include Mayor Kang, Assemblyman Min Hyungbae (Gwangsan-gu-eul, Gwangju), Assemblyman Jung Junho (Buk-gu-gap, Gwangju), and Lee Byunghoon, Senior Vice Chair of the Honam Special Committee. For the People Power Party, the names being considered include former Assemblyman Lee Junghyun, Ahn Taewook, Chair of the Gwangju City Party, and Kang Hyeongu, Chair of the Dongnam-gap Party Association. Additionally, Choi Hyunsoo, Chair of the Gwangju City Party for the Reform Party, Lee Jongwook, Head of the Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions for the Progressive Party, and Seo Wangjin, Floor Leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, are also among the pool of potential candidates.

◇ Trends in Public Opinion Polls = In a recent poll on preferences for the next mayor of Gwangju, commissioned by Newsis Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, the Mudeung Ilbo, and Gwangju MBC to Korea Research International, Assemblyman Min received 33%, Mayor Kang 14%, Assemblyman Jung 6%, Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, 5%, Senior Vice Chair Lee 3%, and Chair Ahn 2%.

◇ Characteristics of the Gwangju Mayoral Election = If a unified mayor is to be elected as a result of the administrative integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, the pool of candidates could expand to include those from South Jeolla as well. Ruling party figures such as Kim Youngrok, Governor of South Jeolla Province, four-term Assemblyman Lee Gaeho (Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong counties in South Jeolla), three-term Assemblyman Shin Junghoon (Naju and Hwasun counties in South Jeolla), and two-term Assemblyman Joo Cheolhyeon (Yeosu-gap, South Jeolla), as well as opposition figures like Kim Hwajin, Chair of the People Power Party's South Jeolla Provincial Party, and Park Pilsoon, Chair of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party's Gwangyang Regional Committee, are also positioning themselves in the Gwangju political landscape.

<Public Opinion Poll>

- Korea Research International. Surveyed 800 men and women aged 18 and over in Gwangju from December 27 to 29 of last year, using 100% mobile phone safe numbers and telephone interviews. The margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission for details.