Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayoral Candidates Emphasize Their Close Ties with President Lee Jaemyung

Joint Speech Session for Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayoral Preliminary Primary
All Seven Candidates Highlight Ties and Political Connections with President
Preliminary Primary on March 19–20; Main Primary Scheduled for April 3–5

All seven candidates running in the Democratic Party's preliminary primary for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayoral Election emphasized their ties and political connections with President Lee Jaemyung at a joint candidate speech session, each vying to present themselves as the most qualified candidate for the inaugural special mayor position.

Candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea’s Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayor Primary Election, Kim Young-rok (from left), Kang Ki-jung, Jung Joon-ho, Joo Cheol-hyun, Shin Jung-hoon, Min Hyung-bae, and Lee Byung-hoon, are taking a commemorative photo at the joint candidate speech meeting for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayor preliminary primary election held on the 14th at the Democratic Party of Korea headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the afternoon of March 14, the Democratic Party held the "Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayoral Preliminary Primary Joint Candidate Speech Session" at the party member zone in the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, broadcasting the event online.

During the speeches, the candidates underscored that, assuming the establishment of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, they were the ones best positioned to work closely with the President.

Jung Junho, the first to speak, introduced himself as "the initial proposer of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integration Special Act and an architect of the integration," stressing that the success of reuniting the Honam region is directly linked to the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration. He further stated, "Even 20 trillion won in support is not enough, so I demanded 30 trillion won, and we need a pinch hitter to seize this bases-loaded opportunity," highlighting the need to secure additional government funding and advocating for generational change in leadership.

Min Hyungbae emphasized his long-standing political partnership with President Lee, saying, "Having met in 2010 as mayors of Seongnam and Gwangsan-gu, we have built trust over 16 years of making political and policy history together." He added, "I will use the 20 trillion won integration support fund as seed money for the next 100 years, investing in advanced corporate infrastructure, talent development, and social safety nets, and will establish the Jeonnam-Gwangju Power Corporation to usher in an era of 100-won industrial electricity rates."

Joo Cheolhyun highlighted his political alignment with the President, stating, "Since the last presidential primary, I have been the only Jeonnam lawmaker to publicly endorse President Lee Jaemyung." He announced plans to implement a decentralized administrative system with three government offices in Gwangju, Dongbu, and Muan, to establish the region as a hub for renewable energy, to develop an AI-based advanced industry belt, to introduce a basic income for farmers and fishers, and to create a special city where daily life is accessible within one hour.

Lee Byeonghun, referencing his experience as Senior Vice Chair of the Democratic Party’s Special Committee on Honam Development, stressed, "Thanks to President Lee Jaemyung’s strong determination, the administrative integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju has gained significant momentum." He pledged to promote balanced development centered on five major areas—Dongbu, Southwest, Southern, Gwangju-Linked, and Gwangju Urban Zones—and to foster next-generation industries such as semiconductors, AI, and future mobility, thereby creating a city that attracts young people.

Kang Kijung, addressing the other candidates’ emphasis on their ties to the President, said, "While everyone chases the President’s aura, what we need now is someone who can make the President shine." He explained that, based on policies first implemented in Gwangju—including integrated care, public nighttime children’s hospitals, and AI administration—he is preparing for the second emergence of a prosperous Jeonnam-Gwangju through integration.

Kim Youngrok, highlighting himself as "the special mayor desired by the President," emphasized his cooperative relationship with President Lee Jaemyung. He pledged to devise a blueprint for the special city within the six-month golden time window, create 100,000 youth jobs, and establish future industrial bases focused on semiconductors, AI, robotics, and secondary batteries.

Shin Junghoon, the final speaker, introduced himself as "At the end of Lee Jaemyung’s intuition stands Shin Junghoon," emphasizing his alignment with the President’s philosophy of governance. He pledged to establish three primary zones—Gwangju, Eastern, and Western—as well as seven economic axes, and to transform the city through transportation innovations such as metropolitan railroads and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), creating a special city where all areas are within an hour’s reach and guaranteeing a basic standard of living for all citizens.

The Democratic Party's primary for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayoral Election will proceed with a preliminary round on March 19–20, followed by the main primary on April 3–5. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held on April 12–14. The Democratic Party also plans to hold group TV debates on March 17–18 before the preliminary primary, and in-depth policy jury debates by region on March 27–29 ahead of the main primary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.