Unified Special Mayoral Primary Starts with 8 Candidates... From Rule Disputes and Candidate Unification to Runoff

Rule Controversies and Candidate Dropouts Cause Turmoil Early in the Race

Three-Way Main Primary Formed Through Unification Moves

Final Candidate Confirmed After Runoff Against Kim Youngrok

Min Hyungbae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, has been officially confirmed as the unified special mayoral candidate for Jeonnam and Gwangju. This primary, which initially attracted eight contenders, was marked by debates over the rules, candidate dropouts, unification moves, and a main primary, before being narrowed down to a runoff. Ultimately, the Democratic Party chose Assemblyman Min as its candidate for the first mayor of the Unified Special City.

On the 31st of last month, Min Hyungbae, a candidate in the Democratic Party's Jeonnam Gwangju Special Mayor primary, is speaking at the broadcast debate held at the KBS Gwangju Headquarters Public Hall in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

The 8-Candidate Primary: Rule Controversies and Candidate Dropouts Shake Up the Race from the Start

According to a compilation of reports by The Asia Business Daily on April 14, this primary began as a multi-way contest featuring heavyweight politicians. The field included Governor Kim Youngrok, Assemblyman Min Hyungbae (serving his second term, representing Gwangsangu-eul in Gwangju), Assemblyman Shin Junghoon (third term, representing Naju and Hwasun in Jeonnam), Assemblyman Lee Gaeho (fourth term, representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in Jeonnam), Lee Byunghoon, Senior Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea Honam Special Committee, Assemblyman Joo Cheolhyun (second term, representing Yeosu-gap in Jeonnam), Assemblyman Chung Joonho (Bukgu-gap in Gwangju), and Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijung. With all eight declaring their candidacies, the race for the inaugural mayor of the Unified Special City carried significant political symbolism from the outset. The simultaneous bids by an incumbent local government leader and multiple sitting lawmakers reflected the perception that the Unified Special City system would serve as a major turning point in reshaping the region's political landscape.

Kim Youngrok (from left), Kang Kijeong, Jung Junho, Joo Cheolhyun, Shin Junghoon, Min Hyungbae, and Lee Byunghun, preliminary candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea's Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special Mayoral Election, are taking a commemorative photo at the joint speech event for preliminary candidates for the 9th nationwide local elections Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special Mayoral Election held at the Democratic Party of Korea headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Cracks emerged in the primary from the early stages. Assemblyman Lee Gaeho raised concerns that the primary process did not adequately reflect the special characteristics of the Unified Special City and subsequently declared he would not participate. Following this, Lee Byunghoon, Deputy Chairman of the Honam Special Committee, also withdrew, criticizing the structure as making genuine policy competition difficult and pointing out the so-called "blind primary" issues. As a result, the rules for selecting the first unified mayoral candidate themselves became a political flashpoint.

During the preliminary primary phase, the candidate field was further narrowed. Assemblyman Chung Joonho was eliminated, leaving five candidates advancing to the main primary: Governor Kim Youngrok, Mayor Kang Kijung, and Assemblymen Joo Cheolhyun, Shin Junghoon, and Min Hyungbae. From this point, the contest shifted from a simple multi-candidate race to one focused on political alliances and strategic choices.

The first major turning point was the unification between Assemblyman Shin Junghoon and Mayor Kang Kijung. The two pursued a single candidacy through public opinion polling, and as a result, Mayor Kang withdrew, forming a single-candidate structure centered around Assemblyman Shin. Subsequently, Assemblyman Min Hyungbae and Assemblyman Joo Cheolhyun also pursued unification, with Assemblyman Joo withdrawing, leaving Assemblyman Min as the sole candidate. These consecutive unification moves quickly streamlined the race, restructuring the main primary into a three-way contest.

Shin Jeonghun, the unified candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea for the integrated mayor of Jeonnam and Gwangju, held a press conference confirming his candidacy on the morning of the 30th of last month at the Gwangju City Council press room. He is seen holding hands and raising them together with Kang Gijeong, the mayor of Gwangju, emphasizing unity and victory. Photo by Song Bohyun

The main primary thus featured a three-way contest among Governor Kim Youngrok, Assemblyman Min Hyungbae, and Assemblyman Shin Junghoon. The Democratic Party of Korea conducted the main primary by combining 50% votes from party members with voting rights and 50% from a general public opinion poll. As the election would determine the first head of this new administrative unit, competition among candidates was seen as more than just a nomination process, but as an indicator of the future administrative direction and political leadership of the Unified Special City.

No Majority in the Main Primary... Runoff Narrowed Down to Kim Youngrok vs. Min Hyungbae

As no candidate secured a majority in the main primary, Governor Kim Youngrok and Assemblyman Min Hyungbae advanced to the runoff, while Assemblyman Shin Junghoon was eliminated. The Democratic Party of Korea held a runoff vote using the same method—combining votes from party members with voting rights and a public opinion poll with verified phone numbers—over a three-day period from April 12 to April 14.

Min Hyung-bae (left) of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Young-rok, candidate for the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special Mayor primary, are attending the final primary debate held at the Gwangju MBC studio in Wolsan-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju on the 9th and posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonhap News

In the runoff, key variables included where the supporters of eliminated candidate Shin Junghoon would align, and whether either camp could expand its organizational base across the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions. Both sides focused on securing last-minute votes from party members and the general public, with one side emphasizing administrative experience and the other highlighting legislative and governmental experience.

As a result, Assemblyman Min was officially confirmed as the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for the Unified Special Mayor of Jeonnam and Gwangju.

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