Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Kim Sang-kwon, Unified Moderate-Conservative Candidate, "Will Follow the People's Order to Revive Gyeongnam Education"

Hangil Research 12.2% · Jowon CNI 13.8%, Combined 26.0% for 1st Place

The unified candidate from the moderate and conservative camps for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education in the nationwide local elections in June has been confirmed as Kim Sang-kwon, former Director of Education at the Gyeongnam Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Kim Sang-gwon, former Director of Education at the Gyeongnam Office of Education, will run as the unified candidate from the moderate-conservative camp for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education in the nationwide local elections this June.

The Nara Sarang Association, which was in charge of promoting candidate unification, announced on the 30th in front of the Gyeongnam Office of Education main building that Kim Sang-gwon was finally selected based on a public opinion survey conducted from the 27th to the 29th.

Chairman Gyeong Cheol-su of the association said, “As a result of suitability surveys conducted by two polling agencies, Hangil Research showed 12.2%, and Jowon CNI showed 13.8%, with preliminary candidate Kim Sang-gwon achieving a combined support rate of 26.0%, ranking first.” He added, “We expect that the unified candidate will correct the malpractices such as irresponsible student human rights ordinances, biased personnel appointments, disregard for school autonomy, occupation by specific forces, intensified conflicts at frontline schools, and the decline of teachers’ authority.”

According to the agreement of the unification promotion council before the vote count, the support rates received by Kim Myung-yong, professor of law at Changwon National University, Choi Hae-beom, former president of Changwon National University, and Heo Gi-do, former chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, will not be disclosed.

Candidate Kim Sang-kwon received the certificate confirming him as the unified candidate of the centrist and conservative camps.

Holding the certificate confirming his status as the unified candidate, Kim Sang-gwon said, “This unification primary was held in response to the solemn order of the residents to revive the broken Gyeongnam education and correct its malpractices.” He added, “Without working together with the three preliminary candidates who ran, it will be difficult to achieve the dream and goal of changing Gyeongnam education.”

He stated that they plan to organize cooperation directions and pledges soon at the newly formed election camp with the three preliminary candidates.

He sharply criticized the current Superintendent of Education, Park Jong-hoon, who is running as the progressive camp’s candidate for Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education.

“Over the past eight years, conflicts within the educational community have intensified, the order of work processing within the Office of Education has collapsed, and students’ academic performance has declined,” he said. “I believe that the Gyeongnam education led by current Superintendent Park Jong-hoon has failed.”

He expressed his ambition, saying, “Having been selected after a long journey toward unification, I will restore conservative education and take responsibility for changing Gyeongnam education.”

Unlike the previous election, the unification of candidates from the moderate-conservative camp has succeeded, narrowing the expected candidates for the June Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education election to the current three-term incumbent Park Jong-hoon and candidate Kim Sang-gwon.

If no other candidates emerge, the current two-person race will solidify, and a head-to-head contest between the two candidates is expected this coming June.

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