Prominent candidates for the Jeonnam-Gwangju special city mayor position advance by leveraging cooperation between Jeollanam-do and Gwangju authorities. Officials highlight shared goals and bipartisan approaches to propel their campaigns.
Early Candidacy Declarations
Assemblyman Min Hyeong-bae from Gwangju’s Gwangsan-gu district unveiled the first joint candidate during the January 21 Gwangju-Gyeonggi City Council meeting. He emphasized, “Merging Jeonnam and Gwangju economies, surpassing Seoul to build a world-leading economic powerhouse through collaboration, positions this as the inaugural mayor for the Jeonnam-Gwangju special city.”
Min also outlined targeted projects, including southern new city development in Jeonnam’s Dongbugwon, marine plastics and Taeyanggang cleanup in Seobugwon, AI-based smart agriculture and non-sikpum/bio/medical industries in Jungbugwon, plus national AI data centers and infrastructure in Gwangju.
Support from Regional Leaders
Jeonnam Governor Jeong Joo-hoon addressed joint sessions of Gwangju and Jeonnam councils on January 10, stressing, “Our cooperation transcends simple projects—it’s a full-scale strategy linking AI, energy, and marine sectors to elevate both regions beyond major powers.”
Lee Gea-ho, representing Jeonnam’s Dam-yang, Ham-pyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong districts, declared during the same meetings, “Jeonnam reclaims its role as the nation’s southern hub through this unity-driven candidacy.”
Other backers include Shin Jeong-hoon from Jeonnam’s Naju-Hwasun districts and Joo Cheol-hyeon from Yeosu, who affirmed at a Suncheon council meeting on January 6, “Jeonnam’s Dongbugwon thrives as an industrial-energy hub via this collaboration.”
Poll Results Show Tight Race
A recent KBS Gwangju broadcast poll from January 8-9 sampled 1,609 adults aged 18+ across Gwangju and Jeonnam (95% confidence level, ±2.4% margin). Min Hyeong-bae leads at 21%, followed by Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok at 19%. Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jeong trails at 9%, Shin Jeong-hoon at 8%, Joo Cheol-hyeon at 6%, Lee Gea-ho at 4%, Min Hyeong-bae’s Honam special autonomous committee chair at 4%, and Jeong Joo-hoon at 2%.
No preference stands at 14%, undecided at 13%. Regionally, Gwangju favors Min at 30%, Kang at 15%, Kim at 13%; Jeonnam supports Kim at 24%, Min at 14%, Shin at 11%, Joo at 9%.
Election Outlook and Challenges
The by-election, part of the 53rd local elections, occurs March 5. Vice Governor Jin Bo-dang predicts Jeonnam Vice Governor Lee Nak-yong’s joint candidacy report on January 3 will secure 500,000 Honam voters, marking the top collaboration effort.
Despite momentum, concerns persist over excluding the special city proposal from the joint special law, with Gwangju Mayor and Jeonnam Governor nominees potentially bypassing unified nominations. A February joint special bill passage through the National Assembly remains key.
