[6.3 Election] Lee Wantak vs Kim Kwan-young Effect... North Jeolla Early Voting Rate Hits Record High at 35.05%

Second Highest Turnout Nationwide... Sunchang at 62.31%, Gubernatorial Race Remains Tight

Kim Embarks on 72-Hour Overnight Grassroots Campaign... Lee Pledges 10 Million Won per Resident

Democratic Party on Alert to Consolidate Core Support... Heated Atmosphere in Parliamentary By-Elections

Ahead of the 9th nationwide local elections, the early voting rate in North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province reached 35.05%, reflecting the region's heated election atmosphere. The fierce two-way race for governor between Democratic Party candidate Lee Wantak and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young is entering its final phase. Attention is focused on how this record-high early voting enthusiasm will translate into the final results.

On the second day of early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections on the 30th, voters are casting their ballots at an early voting station set up at the Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the National Election Commission, during the two days of early voting on May 29 and 30, a total of 529,181 out of 1,509,854 eligible voters in North Jeolla participated, resulting in a turnout of 35.05%. This figure is 11.54 percentage points higher than the national average of 23.51%, and ranks second among the 17 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide, following South Jeolla (38.95%). It also far surpasses North Jeolla's early voting rate of 24.41% recorded during the 8th local elections in 2022.

By city and county, Sunchang County had the highest early voting rate at 62.31%, followed by Gochang County (53.16%), Jinan County (52.33%), and Jangsu County (51.73%), all exceeding 50%. Imsil County recorded 49.01%, Muju County 47.92%, Buan County 45.08%, Namwon City 44.29%, Jeongeup City 42.95%, and Gimje City 40.91%. Wanju County (36.68%), Iksan City (31.4%), and Gunsan City (30.11%) followed behind. Jeonju City had the lowest rate at 29.07% among the 14 cities and counties, highlighting a clear gap in turnout between rural and urban areas.

In Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan—constituencies holding parliamentary by-elections alongside the local elections—the early voting rate reached 42.59%, the highest among the 14 by-election districts nationwide. In North Jeolla's Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan-gap, the rate was 29.71%.

Amid high early turnout, the North Jeolla gubernatorial race is solidifying into a neck-and-neck contest between Democratic Party candidate Lee Wantak and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young.

On this day, candidate Lee Wantak unveiled a core campaign pledge centered on making North Jeolla a "pension city." He proposed returning the profits from new and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to residents, providing up to 10 million won per household annually as a "sunlight and wind pension." Lee stated, "I will create a structure where profits from renewable energy do not end up solely in the hands of outside companies, but instead return as pension and income to local residents."

In response, independent candidate Kim Kwan-young's campaign announced he would embark on a 72-hour overnight campaign from midnight on May 31 to midnight on June 2, personally visiting local workplaces such as delivery workers, sanitation workers, labor markets, and early morning auction sites, regardless of day or night. Kim appealed, "The future of North Jeolla should be decided not by central politics, but by the people of North Jeolla themselves," urging voters to make their own independent choice.

As the close race continues, the Democratic Party is making an all-out effort to defend its traditional stronghold in the Honam region. On the last day of early voting, campaign chief Jeong Cheongrae emphasized during a rally in Wando, South Jeolla, "A Democratic Party candidate will be far more effective in the National Assembly during the Lee Jaemyung administration than an independent," repeatedly calling for support for his party's candidate. This also testifies to the formidable support for Kim Kwan-young, who is running as an independent after being expelled from the party. The main voting will take place on June 3.

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