[6.3 Election] Kim Kwan-young Launches Official Campaign... Police Investigate 'Terror Threat'

Despite Overcast Skies, Over 1,000 Gather at Pungnammun Square for Major Campaign Kickoff
"Jeonbuk That Never Stops" Slogan... Numerous Sports Legends in Attendance
Campaign Requests Police Investigation Over Social Media Post Urging "Take a Pistol"

As independent candidate Kim Kwan-young (No. 7) for Governor of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province officially kicked off his election campaign on the 21st, a post suggesting a terror plot against him was uploaded on social media, prompting a police investigation.

Kim Kwan-young, candidate for Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Governor (Independent, No. 7), officially kicked off his election campaign at 10 a.m. on the 21st at Pungnammun Plaza in Jeonju. Photo by Kim Kwan-young Campaign Headquarters

According to Kim Kwan-young's campaign headquarters, on May 20, the day before the official campaign launch, "We received a tip-off that a certain Facebook account had posted a message indicating an intent to go after candidate Kim, and we immediately requested a police investigation."

According to the campaign, the post's author, identified as Mr. Kang, wrote on his social media: "Starting tomorrow, I will go after those distributing cash. If you are pro-Democratic Party, love Jeonbuk, support Lee Wontak, or are a friend, please give me your advice only until today. From tomorrow, I will abandon myself for the sake of Jeonbuk and the Democratic Party." In response, Mr. Choi commented, "When you go after the cash distributors, take handcuffs and a pistol, as they will resist and try to escape," showing support for the post.

Based on the context, the account is presumed to belong to a supporter of Lee Wontak. This is the second incident implying a terror threat, following posts such as "Let's kill Jeong Cheongrae" and "Recruiting an assassination squad for Jeong Cheongrae" that appeared in a group chat room on social media on the 16th.

A representative from Kim's campaign stated, "Right before the official campaign launch, we declared an end to negative campaigning to clean up the muddy election atmosphere, but it is extremely regrettable that such a terror threat was reported immediately after. We requested an investigation first to ensure safety and thoroughly uncover the truth."

Despite this tense atmosphere, candidate Kim Kwan-young pressed ahead with his campaign launch ceremony at 10 a.m. on the 21st at Pungnammun Square in Jeonju, kicking off a full-fledged rally. Under the slogan "Jeonbuk That Never Stops," the event drew around 1,000 local residents from diverse backgrounds, including women, youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and professional groups, filling the square. Despite the rather overcast weather, participants held raincoats and sky-blue pinwheels, chanting "Kim Kwan-young!" and showing enthusiastic support.

In his kickoff speech, Kim declared, "Although gray clouds hang over Jeonbuk's sky right now, we know that blue sky lies beyond. The power of Jeonbuk and its people is to move forward without stopping, even amid uncertainty." He continued, "This election is not just Kim Kwan-young’s, but an election for the people of Jeonbuk who have not given up on the future. I will not rely on politics of conflict and division, but will move forward with the residents to the very end, toward Jeonbuk’s future."

The event also drew attention with the attendance of legendary sports stars. Former national table tennis head coach Hyun Jeonghwa, founding member of the Haitai Tigers Kim Bongyeon, former Kia Tigers manager Kim Seonghan, and former world boxing champion Jang Jeonggu took the stage to express their support for Kim and delivered special messages backing the bid to host the 2036 Jeonju Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile, Kim began his first campaign activities at midnight with "The Great Journey," an online kickoff event via Zoom, which was spontaneously organized by around 40 young supporters. Speaking with the youth, Kim promised, "I will make Jeonbuk a place where you do not feel the need to leave." At 5:30 a.m., he visited the garage for environmental sanitation vehicles in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, to encourage sanitation workers, and at 6 a.m., he visited the Songcheon-dong agricultural and fisheries wholesale market to listen to the concerns of merchants. Starting from 7:30 a.m., he greeted citizens at the intersection near Lotte Department Store in Jeonju, appealing for their support on their way to work.

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