[Gangwon Governor] Kim Jin-tae vs. Woo Sangho...Will the Tables Turn? [Current Affairs Show]

Kim Jin-tae and Woo Sangho Each Nominated as Sole Candidates

"Woo Sangho, Picked by Lee Jaemyung, Gains Support from Choi Moonsoon and Lee Kwangjae"

Incumbent Governor Kim Jin-tae Rallies Support with 'Provincial Administration Briefing'

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Monday to Friday, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Producer: PD Ma Yena

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Hello, everyone. This is So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show. A fierce battle is underway in Gangwon Province. The Democratic Party of Korea nominated Woo Sangho, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, as the sole candidate for governor of Gangwon Province on February 27. The People Power Party nominated the incumbent governor, Kim Jin-tae, as its sole candidate on March 17. With both parties finalizing their nominations, the confrontation is intensifying. Who will emerge as the winner of the June 3 election?

First, let's look at the past election results in Gangwon Province. In the 2022 presidential election, People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk Yeol led Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung by about 13 percentage points. In the local elections that same year, People Power Party candidate Kim Jin-tae defeated Democratic Party candidate Lee Kwang-jae by 9 percentage points. In the basic local government head elections, the People Power Party won in 14 areas, while the Democratic Party managed victories in only 4. In the 2024 general elections, People Power Party candidates won in 6 districts, and the Democratic Party in 2. In the 2025 presidential election, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo secured 47.3% of the vote, while Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung received 44%. Reviewing the results of the past five years, the political landscape has shown a 'conservative advantage.' It will be interesting to see whether this structure changes in the June 3 election, which will take place after the birth of the Lee Jae-myung administration due to martial law and impeachment.

Candidate Kim Jin-tae is the current governor. He was born in October 1964 in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He graduated from Seongsu High School and the Department of Law at Seoul National University. He passed the bar exam (18th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute). He is known as a former public security prosecutor. He served as the director of the Wonju branch of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office and entered politics, serving two terms as a National Assembly member. While in the National Assembly, he had a hardline image, but as governor of Gangwon Province, he successfully transformed his image into that of a 'driven administrator.'

Candidate Woo Sangho was born in December 1962 in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. He graduated from Yongmoon High School and the Department of Korean Literature at Yonsei University. He also served as the president of the Yonsei University Student Association. He is a poet who won the Yun Dong-ju Literary Award. He is considered one of the symbolic figures of the so-called 586 generation. He served four terms as a National Assembly member representing Seoul Seodaemun, and has also served as floor leader and as acting chairman of the emergency committee. Subsequently, under the Lee Jae-myung administration, he served as Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs.

The People Power Party explained, "We nominated Governor Kim Jin-tae as our sole candidate in recognition of his outstanding drive in ensuring the stable establishment of the special self-governing province, breaking regulatory barriers, and attracting various investments." Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "I am grateful. I will now get even closer to the residents of the province," expressing his determination.

He is actively promoting the third revision of the Gangwon Special Act, the progress of Gangwon's seven future industries, and the status of major SOC preliminary feasibility studies. Under the name 'Provincial Government Briefing,' he has been gathering people for these events. After events in Chuncheon and Wonju, on the 28th, a briefing is scheduled to be held at the Ice Arena in Gangneung, with 12,000 participants expected.

Outside candidate Woo Sangho's campaign office, banners read "Sent by the President" and "The Moment Gangwon Becomes Special." These are the core strategies and catchphrases that Woo is putting front and center. In a local media interview, Woo explained that President Lee Jae-myung had encouraged him to run for governor of Gangwon when Lee was a presidential candidate. "I was on a listening tour in Gangwon and never imagined the presidential candidate would encourage me to run. While having a meal in Hwacheon, candidate Lee Jae-myung, in front of many others, suggested that I should take charge of Gangwon's issues and resolve them. President Lee Jae-myung is not someone who speaks lightly, so I was a bit surprised to hear that directly from him at that moment. However, I had already been considering it, and hearing such words from a leading figure made me decide to consider it more concretely. Since the President suggested it, I also expected that he would help address Gangwon's challenges."

What does "I was sent by the President" mean? It is an assertion of being a candidate with power, someone capable of resolving issues in Gangwon Province."The Moment Gangwon Becomes Special" refers to the plan to boost local industries, foster Gangwon-style industries in all 18 cities and counties, and create a structure that generates significant added value in tourism.

The first major clash between the two candidates was over the issue of the new Gangwon Provincial Government building. Gangwon Province began construction of the new building in Donge-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, with 2 underground floors and 9 above-ground floors. It is scheduled for completion at the end of 2029. Candidate Woo Sangho stated that he respects the decision to build a new office, but criticized the plan to finance construction by selling about 4,700 apartment units, saying it does not align with market principles. In response, candidate Kim Jin-tae's side said, "It seems candidate Woo is mistaken and does not fully understand. The entire construction cost for the new office will be covered by the provincial government office construction fund."

Candidate Kim Jin-tae is leveraging his incumbent advantage to maximize his personal competitiveness in order to overcome the challenge of his party's approval ratings. Candidate Woo Sangho is capitalizing on the momentum of a new administration and is receiving support from former governors Choi Moon-soon and Lee Kwang-jae. What will be the outcome of the June 3 election?

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