Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok congratulated the newly elected officials of the proposed Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City, urging them to create genuine coexistence and sustainable growth and to address the reality of regional extinction.
In the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, 10.5% of candidates in Gwangju and Jeonnam, totaling 81 individuals, were elected without a vote. This includes 2 district mayors, 35 provincial councilors, 20 local councilors, and 24 proportional local councilors.
With the June 3 local elections approaching, attention is on voter choices in Gwangju and Jeonnam. The elections will select leaders for the new unified special city, its council, and a parliamentary by-election, potentially reshaping the regional political landscape and challenging the Democratic Party's dominance.
NH Nonghyup Bank was chosen to manage the 21 trillion won integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam special city treasury's primary account, with local Nonghyup branch numbers reportedly influencing the decision. Gwangju Bank, which had fewer branches, was designated for the secondary account.
Lee Jung-hyun, a special mayoral candidate for the People Power Party in Gwangju and Jeonnam, proposed designating the region as a national project for AI, data, and energy industries. He suggested creating a national AI/data cluster in Gwangju and an energy industry belt in Jeonnam, aiming to transform the region into a hub for future industries.
Candidates for the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special Mayor and Gwangju Gwangsan By-election are actively campaigning this weekend, the first of the 6.3 local elections. They are visiting traditional markets, festivals, and religious events to connect with voters.
