[6.3 Election] Lee Junghyun Urges “30% Decision, Not Just Victory”…Calls for Change in Political Landscape

“If Three Out of Ten Choose Change, the Game Will Shift...
A Balance That Breaks Monopolies and Sparks Competition”

Proposes Comprehensive Structural Reform of Administration and Plans for Integrated City Hall in Gwangju

Lee Junghyun, who has been nominated as the People Power Party’s candidate for the special mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju integration, appealed for a change in the political landscape of the Honam region, urging voters to create a “30% decision” that would reshape the political structure, rather than simply secure an electoral victory. Lee defined the 30% as “an irresistible force, a balance that breaks monopolies, and a starting point for competition,” and said, “I ask three out of every ten people to make this decision. I will call those people heroes.”

At his candidacy press conference held in the briefing room of the Gwangju City Council on the 23rd, Lee stated, “I will take this nomination as a stern mandate to break the 30-year monopoly structure in Gwangju and Jeonnam.” He added, “Politics is not about winning where it’s easy, but about being needed where it’s hard,” and, “With that belief alone, I have not stopped running for office in the Honam region for over 30 years.”

Lee Jeonghyun, the People Power Party's candidate for the integrated special mayor of Jeonnam and Gwangju, is holding a press conference for his candidacy on the morning of the 23rd at the briefing room of the Gwangju City Council. Photo by Song Bohyun

Lee presented a comprehensive diagnosis and structural reform of all administrative aspects of Gwangju and Jeonnam as his first pledge. He declared, “Just as old buildings require safety inspections, I will reexamine all administrative affairs that have flowed in a single direction from the ground up,” and, “I will conduct a full review of budgets, personnel, licenses and permits, and public projects.” He further promised to “establish a diagnosis committee for Gwangju and Jeonnam, with participation from young people, experts, and citizens, to fundamentally overhaul outdated structures.”

His second pledge was a vision for an integrated city led by young people. He stated, “I will appoint people aged 45 or younger to 51% of all commissioned posts,” and, “10% of the entire budget—about KRW 2.5 trillion annually—will be allocated, executed, and audited based on input from young people.” He added, “City design and policy direction will also be boldly entrusted to the youth.”

As his third pledge, Lee promised to build a foundation for future industries. He mentioned plans for an industrial complex capable of producing materials, parts, and equipment for 1 million future vehicles, as well as a power generation equipment complex including wind power. He said, “By integrating future vehicles, secondary batteries, and energy industries, I will redraw the industrial map of South Korea.” He continued, “I will attract companies, create jobs, and increase local tax revenues to revitalize the regional economy.”

Regarding the location of the integrated city hall, Lee insisted that “Gwangju is the optimal location for integrated administration, equipped with transportation, accessibility, and existing administrative infrastructure.” At the same time, he said, “Jeonnam will be designed with a structure that disperses industry and functions,” and announced, “Through the allocation of key institutions and decentralization of authority, Gwangju will serve as the administrative center and Jeonnam as the hub for industrial expansion, achieving balanced development.”

Lee also expressed his support for including the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble of the Constitution. He emphasized, “May 18 is not just the history of a particular region, but the history of democracy in South Korea,” and added, “This issue should be addressed not as a matter of political strife, but as a standard for integration.”

On the issue of airports, Lee proposed, “Gwangju Airport and the military airport should be decisively relocated, and Muan Airport should be redesigned as the gateway airport for the southwestern region.” He presented a vision for functional division centered on a logistics-only airport, specialized routes to Southeast Asia, and an aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry.

Regarding the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam, Lee stated, “A system for training medical personnel should be established centering on a public medical school,” and added, “Just like the National Police University or military academies, we will train medical staff with government funding and address essential medical workforce shortages through mandatory service.” He stressed, “Healthcare is not a market but a life infrastructure, and it should be addressed as a national project.”

Lee further commented, “Over the past 40 years, Gwangju and Jeonnam have lost competition and tension under monopoly, and as a result, industries have stagnated and young people are leaving.” He pointed out, “It is also a fact that politics has treated city and provincial residents not as sovereigns but merely as supporters, mobilization targets, and votes.”

He reiterated, “I am not asking you to elect me, but to create a 30% revolution in this election,” emphasizing, “30% is the force that can change politics, move budgets, and transform the fate of Gwangju and Jeonnam.” He continued, “Let’s unite the youth, the unaffiliated, and the silent majority to create a force of checks and balances. Please give us this one opportunity to change politics.”

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