Next Year's Local Elections... Who Is Being Mentioned as a Candidate for Yeosu Mayor?

Over 10 Candidates Voluntarily and Involuntarily Mentioned

From the top row of the photo, from left to right: Kang Yongju (former Chairman of the Yeosu World Expo Foundation), Kang Hwasu (former Blue House administrator), Kwon Sedo (former Chief of Gwangmyeong Police Station); from the second row, from left to right: Kwon Ohbong (current Mayor of Yeosu), Kim Younggyu (former Chairman of Yeosu City Council), Kim Yuhwa (former Yeosu City Council member); from the third row, from left to right: Lee Yongju (former National Assembly member), Jeon Changgon (current Chairman of Yeosu City Council), Jeong Gimyeong (lawyer)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] With just over a year remaining until the local elections in June next year, around 10 candidates have been mentioned as potential contenders for the Yeosu mayoral race.

Among the Democratic Party candidates are incumbent Mayor Kwon Oh-bong, who is seeking re-election; Jeon Chang-gon, chairman of the Yeosu City Council; attorney Jeong Ki-myung, former head of the Democratic Party's Yeosu Eul regional committee; Kang Yong-joo, former chairman of the Yeosu World Expo Foundation; Kang Hwa-soo, former Blue House administrative officer; and Kim Yoo-hwa, former Yeosu City Council member and former Yeosu MBC announcer. Independent candidates include Kwon Se-do, former chief of Gwangmyeong Police Station; Kim Young-gyu, former chairman of the Yeosu City Council; and Lee Yong-joo, former member of the National Assembly.

With more candidates than ever expected in next year’s local elections, local political circles interpret that public sentiment will notably concentrate on candidates likely to win in each electoral district, divided into Gap and Eul constituencies in Yeosu’s political landscape.

Furthermore, focusing solely on the Democratic Party, many view the upcoming Yeosu mayoral election as a proxy battle between incumbent local National Assembly members Joo Chul-hyun (Yeosu Gap) and Kim Hoe-jae (Yeosu Eul), drawing attention to which candidates each lawmaker will support as their rivals in their respective areas.

In other words, with the division into Gap and Eul constituencies, the two National Assembly members, who also serve as heads of the Democratic Party’s Gap and Eul regional committees, are expected to exert significant influence over the pool of mayoral candidates.

Looking at Democratic Party candidates by region, a three-way race is anticipated in the Yeosu Gap constituency among Jeon Chang-gon, chairman of the city council; Kang Hwa-soo, former Blue House administrative officer; and Kim Yoo-hwa, former city council member.

Jeon Chang-gon is regarded as having voiced strong opinions against Mayor Kwon and the executive branch on various issues. Drawing on his experience as a city council member and in council operations, he is reportedly preparing to run for mayor on a platform emphasizing communication that respects citizens’ wishes, job creation, and building a dignified city ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Kang Hwa-soo and Kim Yoo-hwa, who have not yet confirmed their candidacies for mayor, are said to be contemplating ways to pursue citizens’ happiness and paths that benefit the community.

In the Eul constituency, a fierce two-way contest is expected between incumbent Mayor Kwon Oh-bong and attorney Jeong Ki-myung, former head of the regional committee.

Mayor Kwon holds the advantage of incumbency, but it is noteworthy that Yeosu citizens have historically been reluctant to grant a second term to mayors.

Attorney Jeong Ki-myung, leveraging his long-standing experience working in the region, is reported to have firmly decided to run for mayor and has begun preparations.

With predictions that winning the Democratic Party primary will directly lead to winning the mayoral election, the internal party contest is expected to be more intense than ever.

Therefore, securing party members’ votes, which will determine the primary’s outcome, is also drawing significant attention.

Meanwhile, despite the Democratic Party’s dominance, voices warning against excessive regional competition and division in the Gap and Eul areas have been increasing.

When divisions among Democratic Party candidates create openings, independent candidates such as Kwon Se-do, former chief of Gwangmyeong Police Station; Kim Young-gyu, former city council chairman; and Lee Yong-joo, former National Assembly member, are also considered competitive.

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