"Jeon Dongpyeong Is Back"...5,000-Strong Crowd Fills Yeongam Indoor Gymnasium

Senior And Incumbent Democratic Party Figures Gather for Book Launch
From 1980s Democratization to Eight Years as County Governor
Demonstrating His Presence Ahead of the June Local Elections

Jeon Dongpyeong, former Yeongam County governor, is calmly recounting his life story spanning more than 40 years at the 'Running Again in Yeongam with Jeon Dongpyeong' book launch held at Yeongam Indoor Gymnasium on the 21st at 2 p.m. Shim Jinseok, reporter

The book launch event for "Running Yeongam Again with Jeon Dongpyeong," which contains former Yeongam County Governor Jeon Dongpyeong's more than 40-year political journey and his reflections on regional development, concluded successfully on the 21st at Yeongam Indoor Gymnasium with the attendance of over 5,000 people, including local residents.

The event was further elevated in stature by the presence of prominent figures such as Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung; Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Min Hyungbae, Shin Jeonghoon, and Lee Gaeho; former National Assembly member Yoo Inhak; and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yangwoo.

In addition, Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Seo Samsuk, Lee Eonju, Hwang Myungseon, Kim Woni, and Yeom Taeyoung; former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Younggil; former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Dugwan; Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Superintendent Kim Daejung; former National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Chairman Kim Byungwon; Minsheng Economic Research Institute Director Ahn Jingul; and singer Ha Choonhwa sent congratulatory messages via video.

Many county residents attended the book launch event for "Yeongam Running Again with Jeon Dongpyeong." Shim Jinseok, reporter

In particular, around 10 representatives of county residents, including local farmers, multicultural families, and young people from Yeongam, delivered messages of support for the former county governor directly at the venue, drawing attention. It was considered especially meaningful that the "voices of the residents," rather than speeches centered on politicians, formed one of the pillars of the event.

The main program of the day was a "talk concert" in which the former county governor reflected on his past, present, and future.

He calmly looked back on his memories as a young man during May 1980, the background to his first step into politics in 1991 as a Jeollanam-do provincial assembly member, his transition to becoming a corporate CEO, and his eight years of experience as Yeongam County Governor during the sixth and seventh popular elections.

Jeon Dongpyeong, former Yeongam County governor, is greeting about 5,000 county residents who came to his book launch event. Photo by Shim Jinseok

Jeon said, "Looking back on the past, there was a spirit of the times at each stage of my life," adding, "In the 1980s it was democracy, in the 1990s it was putting down roots for grassroots local autonomy, and in the 2000s it was solving the problem of making a living."

He went on to recall, "After working for eight years as a corporate CEO, I returned as county governor," and said, "I wanted to do even small things that could contribute to the development of the nation and society and help create a county where residents could live more happily."

He then emphasized, "Now my remaining mission in this era is to shape the future of Yeongam based on the experiences I have accumulated so far," and added, "I will dream of Yeongam's future together with the residents and move forward together."

Meanwhile, "Running Yeongam Again with Jeon Dongpyeong" is a record that organizes his life and choices, from being born in Yeongam, going through the democratization movement, experiencing both local councils and corporate management, to leading the administration of Yeongam County for eight years. It contains the major policies and administrative achievements pursued during his tenure in the sixth and seventh popular elections, as well as episodes from the field shared with residents. It is widely regarded as going beyond a simple autobiography to strongly reflect on regional development strategies and the meaning of local autonomy.