Kim Youngrok Gives Up on Presidential Bid... The Complicated Shifts in the Political Landscape

Kim Youngrok Jeonnam Governor

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Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, has abandoned his firmly promised "early presidential election run," causing the landscape for next year's local elections (scheduled for June 3, the 9th Nationwide Local Elections) to shift once again.

For several regional political hopefuls who had been calculating their chances of winning the governor's race while ruling out Governor Kim's bid for a third term, this turn of events has left them deflated.

Although there are persistent rumors that Kim could join the cabinet if Lee Jaemyung, the current leader of the Democratic Party, wins the presidential election, for now, these candidates are forced to completely rethink their election strategies.

Separately, the sense of disappointment in the region toward Kim, who rather anticlimactically declared he would not run for president, is expected to weigh on his future political moves.

On the 8th, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, announcing, "I will not run in the 21st presidential election." This reversed his previous stance in February, when he said he would run if an early presidential election was held.

Kim also made official his alignment with Lee Jaemyung, stating, "I will achieve a change of government through a united Democratic Party." He emphasized that this was a kind of calling for the stabilization of a shaken Korea, referencing the recent state of emergency and the impeachment of Yoon Sukyeol.

The issue is that Kim's decision to withdraw from the presidential race is being criticized for ignoring regional sentiment, both in terms of timing and justification. His earlier declaration to see the presidential race through to the end symbolized the "revival of Honam politics."

Of course, most local political circles predicted he would not go all the way, but for residents longing for a "post-Kim Daejung" figure, it was a compelling proposal. Some even saw Kim, who had previously been known for his gentlemanly politics, as finally growing into a truly strategic politician and issue-maker, interpreting it as a positive signal.

Indeed, during the impeachment crisis of Yoon Sukyeol, Kim's activities drew national attention. He frequently voiced sharp criticism about the impeachment on social media, and demonstrated his activist side through one-man protests and street demonstrations. Notably, he recently drew nationwide attention by sharply criticizing former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo, who announced his presidential bid, saying, "There has been no apology or reflection on acts of cooperating with insurrection." This was seen as an unprecedented political move, and some even suggested he could grow into a "strongman" leader.

However, Kim's announcement to drop out of the presidential race has erased his previous achievements entirely. By declaring his withdrawal immediately after Lee Jaemyung was acquitted in his public election law appeal and Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment was finalized, all the justification he had built up vanished.

Of course, if the intention was to shift from the "pro-Moon" faction to the "pro-Lee" faction, such a change of stance could be discussed based on political calculations, but for now, he is stuck in an ambiguous position.

Due to Kim's change of heart, several local figures who plan to run for governor next year now face urgent challenges. Currently, prominent candidates include Democratic Party lawmakers Joo Cheolhyeon (Yeosu-si Gap, Jeollanam-do), Shin Jeonghun (Naju-Hwasun, Jeollanam-do), Lee Gaeho (Damyang-Hampyeong-Yeonggwang-Jangseong, Jeollanam-do), and Seo Samsuk (Yeongam-Muan-Shinan, Jeollanam-do). All are considered local heavyweights with strong organizations and solid support in their constituencies.

However, there are clear limitations. Once they step outside their own districts, their public appeal drops sharply, to the point of near anonymity. In particular, Lee Gaeho has recently been embroiled in several controversies and accusations of neglecting his district during the recent by-elections for Yeonggwang and Damyang county heads, leading to significant disfavor even within the Democratic Party and the local community.

Seo Samsuk has also failed to expand his influence, appearing to focus more on managing his district rather than regional development, especially regarding the relocation of the Gwangju-Muan military airport. Joo Cheolhyeon and Shin Jeonghun are also only influential in the eastern and central-western regions of Jeollanam-do, respectively.

All these lawmakers are making various political efforts to expand their reach, but they have yet to truly appeal to local residents. They have not brought any major issues that would make residents excited or enthusiastic.

In reality, they seem insufficient to surpass the stronghold of Kim Youngrok, who has a solid presence across all 22 cities and counties of Jeollanam-do. Unless these lawmakers devise bold strategies, such as strategic candidate unification, to build organizational power that spans all of Jeollanam-do over the next year, it is widely expected to be a difficult challenge. While there is still a possibility that Kim could join the cabinet if Lee Jaemyung wins the presidency, for now, this remains just a rumor.

A local political insider commented, "Frankly, Kim Youngrok's withdrawal from the presidential race was somewhat predictable. It's not exactly a surprise," adding, "However, for potential candidates for the governor's race, Kim's announcement not to run for president is a real headache."

He continued, "It's significant enough that they have to completely rethink their election strategies. Of course, Kim's decision has disappointed many local residents, but it does not hinder his potential third term bid. In fact, it could be seen as a turning point that allows him to change his previously ambiguous position within the party."

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