[2022 Local Elections Who's Running] Gwangsan District Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City

Commissioner Kim Sam-ho Sentenced to Disqualification for Election Law Violation in Appeal... Candidates Begin Full Preparations

Democratic Party Candidates Including Kim Hak-sil, Park Byung-gyu, Yoon Bong-geun, Lee Sung-soo, and Choi Chi-hyun Emer

From the left in the photo: Kim Hak-sil, Gwangju City Council member; Park Byung-gyu, former Deputy Mayor of Gwangju; Yoon Bong-geun, former Chairman of Gwangju City Council; Lee Sung-soo, former Deputy Mayor of Gwangsan District; Choi Chi-hyun, former Blue House administrative officer. (in alphabetical order)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] [Editor's Note] The local elections on June 1 next year will be held immediately after the first-ever 'Cherry Blossom Presidential Election,' and the political landscape could change depending on who becomes president. Political figures aiming for basic local government heads have already begun strategic maneuvering. Among the five basic local government heads in the Gwangju area, some have completed trials or are awaiting results, setting the stage for fierce competition between challengers seeking change and incumbent district mayors defending their positions. Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters outlines the election prospects for next year's basic local government heads by district in Gwangju.

The Gwangsan District Mayor election in Gwangju Metropolitan City is considered the fiercest battleground.

This is because the current Gwangsan District Mayor, Kim Sam-ho, was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act.

During the appeal process, Mayor Kim requested a constitutional review, arguing that the Public Official Election Act excessively restricts election campaigning by industrial complex employees, and the court accepted this request.

Due to the constitutional review, the appeal trial was delayed for about 2 years and 5 months, and on the 23rd, the appeal court also sentenced him to 1 year in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence, a penalty that invalidates election results.

After the trial ended, Mayor Kim met with reporters and expressed his intention to appeal.

Although the Supreme Court's ruling is pending, with the election-invalidating sentence handed down in both the first and second trials, prospective candidates aiming to enter Gwangsan District next year have begun strategic maneuvering.

Due to the unique characteristics of Gwangju, the heartland of the Democratic Party, candidates within the Democratic Party currently dominate.

City Councilor Kim Hak-sil is gearing up to run.

Councilor Kim has worked as an announcer for 30 years at Mokpo MBC, CBS, and KBC Gwangju Broadcasting. She gained the love of Gwangju citizens by producing and hosting the radio program "Kim Hak-sil's Memory Search."

After being elected as a Gwangju Metropolitan City Councilor in the 2018 local elections, she served as Chair of the Education and Culture Committee, working to address the School Me Too movement, promote maker education, build Hanam City Library, and convert Bia Middle School into a high school, among other efforts to improve the educational environment.

She has also worked to foster local businesses, expand birth support funds, and enhance single-person broadcasting facilities, striving for sound administration of Gwangju city affairs. Additionally, she has been active in legislative activities through continuous policy proposals and advocacy, including the establishment of the CT Research Institute and the Transportation Corporation, and the construction of the Honam regional transportation network.

Former Gwangju Deputy Mayor Park Byung-gyu is also reportedly preparing to run.

Former Deputy Mayor Park is widely known as the original proposer and designer of the Gwangju-type job, Korea's first win-win job model, and Gwangju Global Motors. He is known as the "father of Casper."

He is regarded as the person who best understands industry and administration, having served for a long time in industrial sites, as Deputy Mayor, and as Special Advisor for Social Solidarity Jobs.

Especially during his tenure as Deputy Mayor, he contributed to the creation of Gwangju-type jobs through the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex and labor-management-government grand compromise, helping Gwangju become the first local government nationwide to receive the comprehensive grand prize, the Presidential Award, in the local government job competition.

Former Gwangju Metropolitan Council Chairman Yoon Bong-geun is also mentioned in the rumors.

Former Chairman Yoon, a native of Gwangsan District, is currently appointed as a National Communication Committee member of the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development and as a member of the Administrative Coordination Committee under the Prime Minister, actively working between local and central governments.

Recently, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party Central Policy Committee and Vice Chairman and Executive Committee member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Party. He has also served as former Chairman of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, Chairman of the Gwangju Education Committee, and President of the National Association of Metropolitan City Council Chairs.

He is also the co-Vice Chairman of Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign Gwangju headquarters and co-Chief of the Democratic Party Gwangju Metropolitan City Party campaign headquarters.

As a former teacher, Yoon's strong support from parents and the education sector is considered a strength. In the last general election, he served as the permanent election campaign committee chairman for National Assembly member Lee Yong-bin, so active support from Lee is expected in next year's local elections.

Former Deputy Mayor of Gwangsan District Lee Sung-soo is also reportedly focusing on preparing to run.

Former Deputy Mayor Lee worked for over 40 years in public service, with 33 years at Gwangsan District Office.

He is known as a remarkable figure who started as a Grade 9 public official and was promoted to Grade 3 Deputy Director (Deputy Mayor).

During his time at Gwangsan District Office, he held key positions such as Director of Planning and Management Office and General Affairs Division Head. He was promoted to Grade 4 Suwan-dong Mayor by nationwide resident recommendation, then served as Director of Autonomous Administration Bureau, and retired honorably in 2018 after serving as Deputy Mayor?a unique career path.

He enjoys strong trust from residents and is regarded as a model public official whom most Gwangsan District Office employees aspire to emulate.

In the 21st general election, he played a significant role in the election camp to maintain loyalty with National Assembly member Min Hyung-bae and currently serves as the Senior Vice Chairman of the Gwangsan District Party Committee.

Former Blue House Administrator Choi Chi-hyun is also gearing up to run.

He is a former student activist and former president of the Gwangju University Student Council, and served as the Open Civil Service Office Director of Gwangsan District during the 5th and 6th civilian administrations.

He later served as a Blue House administrator and policy officer at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs before resigning. Recently, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party Strategic Planning Committee and also serves as Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party Gwangju Metropolitan City Party.

Administrator Choi's background as a student council president gives him strong support from activist circles. Support from National Assembly member Min Hyung-bae is expected in next year's election.

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