To Markets, Festivals, and Bongha Village... Integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam Mayoral Candidates Court Holiday Voters

Visiting Markets, Festivals, and Religious Venues for Everyday Life-Centered Campaigns

Gwangsan By-Election Candidates Also Appeal for Support Across the Region

With the Buddha’s Birthday holiday coinciding with the first weekend of the official campaign period for the June 3 local elections, candidates for the mayor of the Integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City are expanding their campaign radius beyond Gwangju to cover the entire Jeonnam region. As “everyday life-centered” election campaigns ramp up, with visits to traditional markets, festival venues, and religious events, each candidate is promoting their own messages and reaching out to their support bases in an effort to win over voters during the holiday period.

On the first day of official election campaigning for the June 3 local elections, June 21, candidates for the integrated mayoral position of Gwangju and Jeonnam are conducting street rallies in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area. From the left (in order of ballot number): Min Hyungbae of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jeonghyun of the People Power Party, Lee Jongwook of the Progressive Party, Kang Eunmi of the Justice Party, and independent candidate Kim Kwangman. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Integrated Mayor Candidates Traverse Jeonnam... From Markets and Festivals to Bongha Village

Min Hyungbae, the Democratic Party candidate, after campaigning in the western Jeonnam areas of Jindo, Haenam, Gangjin, and Wando the previous day, will attend the 17th anniversary memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam on May 23. He will then move on to Suncheon to continue his campaign, planning to tour both the eastern and western regions of Jeonnam during the holiday period, including Gwangyang, Damyang, Yeosu, and Gokseong.

Lee Jeonghyun, the People Power Party candidate, is campaigning across Gwangju and Jeonnam, targeting citizens, merchants, and young people. Lee plans to highlight the need for “competition in Gwangju and Jeonnam,” emphasizing the need to keep the Democratic Party in check.

Lee Jonguk, the Progressive Party candidate, is carrying out vehicle-based campaigns, visiting Malbau Market, Songjeong Five-Day Market, the Gokseong Rose Festival, and areas such as Mokpo, Naman, and Naju Innovation City in succession.

Kang Eunmi, the Justice Party candidate, is focusing on public livelihood, visiting labor sites, traditional markets, religious facilities, and regional festivals. Independent candidate Kim Kwangman is focusing on winning over grassroots voters at the five-day markets in southwestern Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Intense Battle for Gwangsan By-Election... Targeting Merchants, Religious Groups, and Local Voters

Candidates for the Gwangju Gwangsan by-election are also traversing the region during the holiday, broadening their contact with voters in various neighborhoods.

Candidates for the Gwangsan District by-election in Gwangju are campaigning on the first official day of the election campaign on the 21st. From the top left in the photo, Im Munyoung, Democratic Party candidate; Ahn Taewook, People Power Party candidate; Bae Sujin, Justice Innovation Party candidate; Jeon Jooyeon, Progressive Party candidate; Shin Jihye, Basic Income Party candidate; and Gu Bon-gi, independent candidate. Provided by each campaign headquarters.

Moonyoung Im, the Democratic Party candidate, is gathering public opinion on local economic issues and public sentiment by attending a meeting with the Suwan District Merchants’ Association and participating in religious events. Taewook Ahn, the People Power Party candidate, is focusing his campaign on large commercial facilities such as Lotte Mart Cheomdan, Suwan Hanaro Mart, and Hanam Homeplus.

Sujin Bae, the National Innovation Party candidate, is meeting local voters by visiting sports facilities, parks, and churches. Jooyeon Jeon, the Progressive Party candidate, is carrying out everyday life-centered campaigns by visiting community centers, participating in plogging activities, greeting people on the streets, and attending the Buddha’s Birthday celebration ceremony.

Jihye Shin, the Basic Income Party candidate, plans to visit KIA Champions Field to encourage voter participation, while Bonki Gu, the independent candidate, is focusing on intensive campaigning in the Cheomdan and Suwan districts. Gu’s campaign stated that they will operate the “Seoul-Gwangju Candlelight Victory Bus,” which will involve supporters from across the country, and also conduct support campaigns with prominent figures from various sectors.

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