Lee Won-taek Projected to Win Jeonbuk Governor Election

Lee Won-taek of the Democratic Party is poised to secure the governorship of Jeonbuk province following the local elections. Preliminary results indicate a strong lead for Lee, reflecting a projected victory in the closely watched race.

As of 11:14 p.m. on Tuesday, with 36.57% of ballots counted in the Jeonbuk region, Lee had garnered 52.10% of the vote. This placed him ahead of independent candidate Kim Kwan-young, who secured 41.76%. The margin between the two frontrunners stood at over 34,000 votes.

Other candidates, including Yang Jung-mo of the People Power Party, Baek Seung-jae of the Progressive Party, and independent Kim Sung-soo, trailed significantly in the vote count. Their respective shares were 3.30%, 1.54%, and 1.17%.

The election outcome follows a period of controversy for Kim Kwan-young. He was expelled from his party just days before the election after allegations surfaced regarding his payment of approximately 910,000 won to designated drivers during a meal with local youth late last year. This incident significantly impacted his campaign in the final stretch.