[6·3 Election] Registration for Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Mayor Candidates... Vows of "Change" and "Unity"

Min Hyungbae, Lee Junghyun, Kang Eunmi, Lee Jongwook, and Kim Gwangman Complete Candidate Registration
Integrated Superintendent of Education Candidates Also Registered... Official Campaign Begins on the 21st

On the morning of May 14, when candidate registration for the 9th nationwide local elections began, candidates, campaign staff, and members of the press gathered one after another in the main conference room on the 4th floor of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Election Commission. Candidates holding their registration documents officially announced their candidacies by displaying their receipts and shared their reasons and aspirations for running in the election. All candidates running for the Integrated Mayor of Gwangju·Jeonnam and the Integrated Superintendent of Education completed their registrations on this day.

At the Gwangju Election Commission in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, on the same morning, campaign staff from each candidate's camp continued to arrive around the 9 a.m. registration start time. Some campaign teams were busy checking the candidate’s route or preparing for commemorative photos.

After submitting their registration documents to the election commission, the candidates either raised their hands in greeting or posed for photos holding the registration receipt bearing their names.

Pre-candidate Group for the Integrated Special Mayor of Gwangju, Jeonnam. Yonhap News

Min Hyungbae, candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "I will take the lead in ending the painful history that citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam have endured over the past 80 years and in realizing a region-led growth system. I will prepare so that Gwangju and Jeonnam can become proud and confident cities recognized anywhere in the world."

Lee Junghyun, candidate of the People Power Party, said, "I am running to bring tension, competition, and change to Gwangju·Jeonnam politics. If we surpass 30%, it will serve as a living warning from the citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam."

Lee Jongwook, candidate of the Progressive Party, appealed, "I ask the 3.2 million residents of the city and province to complete the politics of progressive and democratic dual wings. I will repay citizens not with politics driven by money and organizations, but with politics built on hard work."

Kang Eunmi, candidate of the Justice Party, said, "I want to create a Gwangju where no one, including women, people with disabilities, workers, and sexual minorities—who have not been represented by the two major parties—is excluded. I will make this a special city where all citizens coexist."

Kim Gwangman, an independent candidate, argued, "Gwangju and Jeonnam, entrusted to the Democratic Party for 32 years, have declined. We must change the political culture in which simply having the Democratic Party label guarantees election victory."

From left: Sukyoung Kang, Daejung Kim, Jeongseon Lee, Jang Gwanho, preliminary candidates. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Kang Sookyung, Kim Daejung, Lee Jeongseon, and Jang Gwanho, candidates for the Integrated Superintendent of Education, also completed their registrations on this day.

Some candidates, including Lim Moonyoung of the Democratic Party of Korea and Ahn Taeuk of the People Power Party, who are running in the Gwangsan National Assembly by-election, plan to complete their registration procedures between May 14 and 15.

Registration for candidates in the June 3 local elections will take place over two days until May 15, and the official election campaign period will begin on May 21.

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