Preliminary Candidates for Next Year's Gwangju Superintendent Election Begin Full-Scale Mobilization

Kim Yongtae, Jeong Sunghong, and Oh Kyungmi Begin Full-Scale Organizational Efforts
Highlighting the Need for "Change" Amid Criticism of Audit Corruption and Lack of Communication

With the superintendent election scheduled for June 3 next year, official events for the pool of candidates are being organized one after another. Each preliminary candidate is either officially announcing their candidacy or preparing for book launches and policy forums, signaling the start of full-scale organizational efforts.

A commemorative photo taken after a meeting of preliminary candidates for the superintendent election held in downtown Gwangju on September 17. From the left, Kim Yongtae, former head of the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union; Oh Kyungmi, former director of the Education Bureau at Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education; Jeong Sunghong, former head of the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union. Provided by reader

According to the local education community on November 28, Kim Yongtae, former head of the Citizens' School at the Gwangju Regional Committee of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, will hold a publication ceremony for his book "Education Where People Live" at 3 p.m. on December 6 at the Oryong Hall of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. In his book, Kim presents the direction for education in Gwangju based on his experience in the teaching profession and his educational philosophy.

On the same day, at 2 p.m., Oh Kyungmi, former director of the Education Bureau at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, will host the launch ceremony of the Gwangju Education Development Forum at the main auditorium of Gwangju National University of Education. The event will feature Oh's educational philosophy and a lecture by author Lee Eunkyung on "The Wise Role of Parents for the Dopamine Family."

Earlier, on November 25, Jeong Sunghong, former head of the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education and officially declared his candidacy. Jeong stated, "I will make Gwangju education true to Gwangju for a Mudeung education where everyone shines," and announced three major educational directions and ten key tasks.

All three preliminary candidates have expressed critical views of the current administration led by Superintendent Lee Jeongseon. They have raised issues such as hiring corruption in the audit office and a lack of communication with the field, sharing the common argument that "change is needed."

These preliminary candidates have also expressed support for the unification of superintendent candidates being promoted by Gwangju's civic groups. However, there are concerns that the unification process may face challenges, as some candidates have raised controversies over titles used in public opinion polls, such as "head of the Citizens' School at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation."

Civic groups in Gwangju are forming a Citizens' Nomination Committee for the superintendent election, announcing nomination rules, recruiting candidates, and proceeding with the unification process.

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