Will the ‘Jeonra High School Craze’ Rise in Next Year’s Local Elections?

Jeonbuk Governor, Mayors, and County Chiefs Eye Numerous Candidacies from Jeollago Alumni for Local Assembly Members

From the first on the left clockwise: Ahn Ho-young, Member of the National Assembly; Lee Jae-kyung, former Jeonju Education Superintendent; Cheon Ho-seong, Professor at Jeonju National University of Education; Lee Han-gi, Provincial Assembly Member; Jeon Chun-seong, Jin'an County Governor; Lee Jung-seon, former Blue House Administrator

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] With the local elections approaching next year, Jeonra High School, known as a prestigious high school in the Jeonbuk region, is drawing attention.

A considerable number of Jeonra High School alumni are preparing to run for positions such as Jeonbuk Governor, Superintendent of Education, and Mayor or County Governor next year.

First, for the Jeonbuk Governor position, Representative Ahn Ho-young (14th class) from Wanju, Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu is preparing to run.

Having re-entered the 21st National Assembly following the 20th, Representative Ahn, a native of Donghyang-myeon, Jinan County, is one of the politicians representing Jeonra High School, alongside Representative Yoo Dong-soo (Incheon Gyeyang-gu Gap, 10th class) of the Democratic Party and Representative Choi Kang-wook (Proportional, 16th class), the leader of the Uri Party.

Currently serving as the secretary of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, Representative Ahn is challenging the governorship by emphasizing his extensive local experience as the head of the Jeonju-Jeonbuk branch of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, co-representative of the Participatory Autonomy Jeonbuk Citizens' Coalition, chairman of the Jeonbuk Democratic Party, and his status as a re-elected lawmaker.

For the Jeonbuk Superintendent of Education, former Jeonju Education Director Lee Jae-kyung (4th class) and Jeonju National University of Education Professor Cheon Ho-sung (14th class) are expected to run.

Both have strong name recognition in the Jeonbuk education community.

Former Director Lee ran in the 7th Superintendent of Education election in 2018, receiving 6.98% of the vote, while Professor Cheon is expanding his efforts ahead of the upcoming Democratic Progressive Superintendent of Education unification at the end of this year.

With current Mayor Kim Seung-soo announcing he will not run, former Blue House administrator Lee Joong-seon (23rd class) is running for the now open Jeonju mayoral seat.

Lee, born in 1976 and in his 40s, is campaigning on a platform of revitalizing Jeonju and is working to secure votes.

Among mayors and county governors, Jin Chun-sung, the current Jinan County Governor (10th class), is expected to seek re-election. Interestingly, his competitor is rumored to be former Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly member Lee Han-gi (1st class). Attention is focused on whether this will become a high-stakes contest between high school alumni.

Provincial Assembly member Doo Se-hun (25th class) is also a potential candidate for Wanju County Governor.

Additionally, current Provincial Assembly member Lee Byung-chul (11th class) and Han Ki-pyo (16th class) are expected to run for assembly seats.

It is also reported that many other Jeonra High School alumni are running for city and county council positions.

Outside Jeonbuk, Park Ki-yeol (10th class), Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, is expected to run for Dongjak District Mayor.

As Jeonra High School alumni prepare to run in next year’s local elections, interest is growing in whether the ‘Jeonra High School wave’ will sweep through.

Until now, Jeonju High School has been at the center of politics in Jeonbuk, with Shinheung High School and Dongam High School also challenging.

Notable Jeonju High School alumni include former Jeonbuk Governor Song Ha-jin, Iksan Mayor Jeong Heon-yul, Gimje Mayor Park Jun-bae, Wanju County Governor Park Seong-il, Sunchang County Governor Hwang Suk-joo, as well as National Assembly members Kim Seong-ju, Yoon Jun-byeong, and Lee Sang-jik.

Shinheung High School counts former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Namwon Mayor Lee Hwan-ju among its alumni, while Dongam High School includes National Assembly members Kim Yoon-duk and Jin Sung-jun.

However, since last year’s general election, Jeonra High School alumni have emerged prominently, and attention is focused on whether their influence will blossom fully in next year’s local elections.

A local political insider said, “To put it simply, in Jeonbuk right now, it is almost embarrassing to present a business card without being from Jeonra High School,” adding, “The election of many alumni directly reflects the prestige of the high school, so the unity and support among alumni will become even stronger.”

Meanwhile, Jeonra High School was established in 1968 and has produced over 20,000 alumni over more than 50 years.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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