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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Final Push for Votes: Candidates Rally in Honam, Jeju for Governor Races

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Candidates in the June 3 local elections are making their final appeals to voters across South Korea, with tight races expected in key regions.
  • In Jeonbuk province, the Democratic Party's Lee Won-taek and independent Kim Kwan-young are locked in a close contest, campaigning intensely on the final day.
  • Other gubernatorial races in Gwangju and South Jeolla, as well as Jeju, are also seeing heated final campaigns as candidates seek to sway undecided voters.

With the June 3 local elections just one day away, candidates are making their final, all-out efforts to win over voters across South Korea. The atmosphere is particularly tense in Jeonbuk province, where a surprisingly close race has emerged between Lee Won-taek of the Democratic Party and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young.

The change in Jeonbuk will ultimately be made by the strength of the citizens who work hard in the field.

— Lee Won-taekDuring his final campaign speech, emphasizing the importance of ordinary citizens.

Both candidates spent the final day of campaigning engaging directly with citizens. Lee Won-taek began his day meeting with sanitation workers and later addressed supporters at Jeonju Pungnammun Square, emphasizing his commitment to the province's development and urging voters to choose him for a new era of growth. He highlighted his campaign's focus on the lives of ordinary citizens.

Kim Kwan-young also engaged in a packed schedule, starting with a meeting with bus drivers and later holding events with students and factory workers. He stressed that the election is crucial for Jeonbuk's future and that the voters' choice, not national politics, should determine the province's direction. His campaign has focused on listening to the voices of diverse groups across the region.

With the power of the Democratic Party's one team, we will open a new era of growth for Jeonbuk.

— Lee Won-taekAppealing for votes and promising a new era of development.

The Jeonbuk gubernatorial race has become a focal point after the Democratic Party expelled its incumbent governor, Kim Kwan-young, who is now running as an independent. This situation has created a significant challenge for the party's nominee and has drawn attention to the potential repercussions for the party leadership.

The voices I heard in the field will be the foundation for building Jeonbuk's future.

— Kim Kwan-youngReflecting on his campaign interactions and promising to use citizen feedback.

Meanwhile, other key races are also heating up. The election for the first mayor of the integrated Gwangju-South Jeolla special city is seeing intense campaigning from candidates representing major parties and independents. Similarly, in Jeju, gubernatorial candidates are making their final appeals amidst rainy weather, each promising to leverage their experience for the island's future.

This election is a decision for Jeonbuk's future, and the choice of the citizens, not national politics, must determine Jeonbuk's future.

— Kim Kwan-youngEmphasizing the importance of local autonomy in the election.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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