In the re-election for the mayor of Damyang County in South Jeolla Province, Jeong Cheol-won from the Justice Innovation Party was elected. He is the first head of a basic local government from the Justice Innovation Party.
According to the National Election Commission, as of 10:30 p.m. on the 2nd, the vote counting was completed at 100%, with candidate Jeong recording a 51.82% (12,860 votes) share, placing first. Lee Jae-jong from the Democratic Party received 48.17% (11,956 votes).
Initially, Lee Jae-jong, a former administrative officer at the Blue House under President Moon Jae-in, was expected to win easily in the Damyang County mayoral re-election. However, discord that emerged during the Democratic Party's primary ultimately hindered his candidacy. Elected Jeong widened the gap with Lee by advocating for a local resident theory.
Hailing from Geumseong-myeon in Damyang County, Elected Jeong is currently the chairperson of the Damyang County Council, having served three terms as a county councilor. He left the Democratic Party in the last local election and was elected as an independent councilor. He joined the Justice Innovation Party to run for the Damyang County mayoral re-election.
The voter turnout for the Damyang County mayoral re-election was reported at 61.8%, the highest among the local government head by-elections held that day.
Meanwhile, in the re-election for the Gwangyang City Council in South Jeolla Province (District D), Lee Don-gyeon of the Democratic Party was elected. In the re-election for the Goheung County Council (District A), independent candidate Kim Jae-yeol won. Additionally, in the by-election for the Damyang County Council (District L), Democratic Party candidate Roh Dae-hyeon, who ran unopposed, was elected without a vote.