Divided Jeonnam Progressive Superintendent Unification... Kim Haeryong: "Will File Lawsuit" vs Nomination Committee: "Single-Candidate Vote"

Unification Collapses Amid 'Rule Disputes'

Kim Haeryong Signals Independent Run

Nomination Committee Pushes Ahead with Sole Yes-or-No Vote on Jang Gwanho

Final Unification in Jeopardy

With the 'Integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City Superintendent of Education' election scheduled for June 3, the race to unify progressive superintendent candidates in the Jeonnam region is heading toward a crisis.

After Kim Haeryong, former head of the Yeosu Office of Education and a candidate in the race, indicated potential legal action citing unfairness in the primary rules, the Jeonnam Citizens’ Nomination Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Nomination Committee) issued an official statement directly rebutting his claims, escalating the conflict over candidate unification to an extreme level.

Gim Haeryong, prospective candidate for the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Superintendent of Education election. Candidate provided

According to local education circles on March 17, the Nomination Committee has decided to proceed with a yes-or-no vote on Jang Gwanho, former head of the Jeonnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, excluding former education chief Kim from the process, in order to select a single unified candidate.

In response, Kim held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education the previous day, stating, "We initially agreed to a process involving 90% public opinion polls and 10% electoral college voting. However, this agreement was nullified due to the rule change requested by Jang's camp and the Nomination Committee's unilateral cancellation of the debate," expressing strong opposition.

He argued, "A yes-or-no vote on a single candidate essentially amounts to a nomination by acclamation," and declared, "I will take all possible legal actions, including filing for a preliminary injunction to suspend the process, and I will see my campaign for superintendent through to the end."

As controversy spread, the Nomination Committee immediately released a press statement on March 17, dismissing Kim's claims. The committee explained, "While there was a general agreement regarding 90% public opinion polling and 10% nomination committee input, a detailed agreement on the rules necessary for the actual primary, such as what constitutes a valid vote, was never reached."

The committee further stated, "We proposed a compromise to prevent delays in the primary, but candidate Kim rejected it. The postponement of the debate was also decided through agreement between the representatives when the Jeonnam-Gwangju integration discussions gained traction, and was not a unilateral cancellation." Currently, the Nomination Committee has begun the process of a nomination committee yes-or-no vote on candidate Jang, following an online general assembly of delegates in which 274 voted in favor and 8 opposed.

However, some point out that the conflict within the progressive camp has already reached a breaking point. Previously, Moon Seungtae, former vice president of Suncheon National University and a participant in the primary, also withdrew his candidacy citing unfairness and instead declared his support for the incumbent superintendent, Kim Daejung of Jeonnam.

In Gwangju, Jung Sunghong, former head of the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, was confirmed as the unified candidate early on. However, as the Jeonnam side continues to struggle in a 'quagmire of rules,' even the final second-round unification between Gwangju and Jeonnam is expected to face a difficult path.

An education official in the region commented, "There is growing fatigue among residents over the infighting within the progressive camp, which has lost both justification and procedural legitimacy. The Nomination Committee, which should prioritize democratic procedures, has instead become the source of discord," adding, "Due to this half-hearted primary, even if a final unified candidate is chosen, it will be difficult to rally the fragmented progressive vote once again."

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