Min Hyungbae Proves Reform Momentum, Confirmed as Ruling Party’s First Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Mayor Nominee

Journalist, District Mayor, Blue House Official, Two-Term Lawmaker
Defeated Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok to Advance to Runoff

On April 14, in the Democratic Party's primary for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayor, candidate Min Hyungbae defeated Kim Youngrok in the runoff to become the final nominee.

This primary involved an intense three-stage process—preliminary, main, and runoff rounds—before the final candidate was selected. It is interpreted that the will of local residents and party members, who preferred reform-oriented change over stability and political clarity over administrative expertise, was broadly reflected in the outcome.

At the regional policy jury debate held on the 27th at the seafood distribution center auditorium in Mokpo, Jeonnam, Min Hyung-bae, a candidate in the Democratic Party of Korea's Jeonnam Gwangju Special Mayor primary, is speaking. Photo by Yonhap News

In the early stages of the primary, support bases were divided by region in a multi-candidate contest, and Min was initially considered relatively weak in terms of rights party member organization.

However, his pro-Lee Jaemyung and reformist image became key factors. His clear political stance, centered on prosecutorial reform, and his status as an early supporter of Lee Jaemyung fostered political solidarity that resonated with the party's mainstream base, helping him gain an advantage among both rights party members and the general public, according to assessments.

The unification phase during the main primary was also a decisive turning point. While the opposing camp consolidated through the unification of Shin Jeonghun and Kang Gijeong, Min succeeded in reaching a political agreement with Ju Cheolhyeon, expanding his support base to the eastern region of Jeonnam.

In particular, Min's unification through consensus, rather than public opinion polls, minimized organizational defections and maintained cohesion among his supporters, which helped reduce vote splitting and solidify a three-way contest.

Analyzing voting tendencies by region, Kim was initially considered to have the advantage, given that Jeonnam, with about 220,000 rights party members—nearly double that of Gwangju—was his base.

However, the consensus is that Min, by forming alliances with figures like Ju Cheolhyeon, the sole candidate from eastern Jeonnam, effectively encroached on Kim's "home turf" voter base, especially in the crucial eastern region.

During the runoff, Kim Youngrok's camp mounted a strong pursuit, but Min's active defense proved decisive in determining the outcome.

Kim strengthened his late-stage momentum by combining the support of Shin Jeonghun and Kang Gijeong's organizations, as well as receiving backing from former party leader Song Younggil's supporters' association, and securing endorsements from four incumbent district mayors in Gwangju (excluding Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang). This caused significant shifts in the race's dynamics.

Min shifted away from his previous stance of "refraining from negative campaigning" and took a more aggressive approach to counter the unification efforts of his opponents. His camp defined Kim's alliances as "alliances of convenience" and "alliances of betrayal," raising the level of criticism and stepping up their checks on the opposition.

Min previously worked as a journalist for a daily newspaper in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region, served as a civic group leader, and held the position of district mayor, making him an experienced politician.

He also gained grassroots autonomy and national governance experience as a secretary in the Blue House under Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, and as a two-term mayor of Gwangsan District in Gwangju.

During the last presidential election, he was the earliest among lawmakers from the Honam region to publicly support then-candidate Lee Jaemyung. As the only two-term lawmaker from Gwangju in the 22nd National Assembly, he stood at the forefront of legislative efforts for prosecutorial reform.

Min was born in Haenam, Jeonnam, graduated from the Department of Sociology at Chonnam National University, and earned both his master's and doctoral degrees from the same university.

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