[6.3 Local Elections] Park Ji-won Dismisses Min Hyung-bae Sponsorship Controversy: "Issue Settled, Focusing on Primary"

Declaration of an "All-Candidate Primary" at the Meeting… No Cutoffs in the Race

Resignation in Respect of Party Guidelines… "Avoiding Unnecessary Misunderstandings"

103rd "Geumgwiyeollae" Vision… "Resolving Regional Decline"

Ji-won Park, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo, has declared a "flawless and fair primary" in his constituency ahead of the June 3 local elections, taking the lead in shaping the election landscape. Notably, he also directly addressed the recent controversy over Hyungbae Min resigning from his post as sponsor chairman, making clear his intention to confront the issue head-on.

On March 28 at 2:00 pm, Assemblyman Park attended the 11th meeting for prospective candidates of the 6·3 local elections in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo, held at the Wando County office in South Jeolla Province.

This visit was part of Assemblyman Park’s signature 103rd "Geumgwiyeollae" campaign. The event drew significant attention, with Myung Hyung-kwan, the head of Haenam County, and many major local prospective candidates gathering in large numbers.

Congressman Jiwon Park is speaking at the 11th Meeting of Prospective Candidates for the 6·3 Local Elections of Haenam, Wando, and Jindo held at the Wando County Office in Jeollanam-do. Photo by Junggyeong Lee

◆"A primary for all, with no eliminations"… Reinforcing transparency to prevent disputes

During the meeting, the results of the candidate screening and the primary’s core principles were made public. The key point was the "primary for all, with no cutoffs."

Hwang Incheol, special advisor and spokesperson for the announcement, emphasized, "In Haenam, Wando, and Jindo, we will hold a primary for all candidates without a single elimination. The method for assigning ballot numbers has also been revised—from the previous adjustment method to a system based solely on primary results—maximizing transparency."

According to the finalized schedule, the primary for local government heads will be held on April 6 and 7. The primary for provincial council members will follow on April 8 and 9, with the county council primary sequentially starting from April 11. Regarding the frequently debated additional points system, he clarified, "For new candidates, women, youth, and people with disabilities, only the highest applicable additional point will be granted, even if someone qualifies for multiple categories. We will uphold a fair framework with no special privileges for anyone."

Congressman Jiwon Park, visiting his constituency with his 103rd 'Geumgwiwollae' campaign, is directly addressing the recent issue of Congressman Hyungbae Min's resignation as the chairman of the sponsorship committee. Photo by Jookyung Lee

Assemblyman Park also addressed the recent resignation of Hyungbae Min, a prospective candidate for Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayor, from his position as sponsor chairman, which had been a hot topic in local politics. He explained, "Candidate Min accepted the sponsor chairman role because of our past connection—he helped me during difficult times. However, once we confirmed the central party’s guideline that sitting lawmakers cannot participate in election campaigns, he immediately resigned."

He continued, "Since the matter has already been resolved, I ask all supporters to now focus on the core election process, such as selecting the candidate for Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Mayor, and to refrain from fueling unnecessary controversy."

◆ Three major visions: 20 trillion won for Jindo, RE100 for Haenam, and a premium golf resort for Wando

In addition to his primary management efforts, Assemblyman Park laid out bold policy blueprints to address the risk of population decline in the region. For Jindo County, he promised to transform the area into an energy industry hub by securing a 20 trillion won offshore wind power complex (3.6 GW). For Haenam County, he pledged to attract a self-sufficient renewable energy complex and data center centered on the Solaseado RE100 industrial complex, and to accelerate the integration of regional transportation networks.

On that day, many key local candidates, including Myeong Hyunkwan, the head of Haenam County, attended the meeting in large numbers to support policy efforts. Photo by Lee Jungkyung

For Wando County, he highlighted plans to attract a premium golf course and resort in collaboration with world-renowned golf star K.J. Choi. Assemblyman Park stated, "We need to introduce facilities that surpass Haenam Pine Beach to transform the landscape of the tourism industry," adding, "I will personally oversee local long-standing projects such as the public restoration initiative."

In his closing remarks, Assemblyman Park said, "Haenam, Wando, and Jindo will become exemplary regions that conduct the most peaceful and fair primaries in the country. I am determined to do my utmost to make a tangible contribution to my hometown before I leave."

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