The Democratic Party of Korea confirmed Rep. Lee Won-taek as its Jeonbuk State governor candidate for the June 3 local elections.
The Democratic Party's central election commission announced the results of the Jeonbuk governor primary ballot count at party headquarters in Yeouido on the 10th, saying Lee defeated preliminary candidate Ahn Ho-young to become the final nominee. In accordance with party rules, the commission did not disclose each candidate's vote share.
The Jeonbuk primary shifted rapidly after incumbent Gov. Kim Kwan-young was expelled over allegations of a "cash handout." The race then became a two-way contest between Rep. Lee and preliminary candidate Ahn, and the primary was conducted from the 8th for three days, using a method that reflected 50% from dues-paying party members' votes and 50% from a general public poll.
Late in the primary, allegations surfaced that Lee had someone else pick up his meal tab, but the party's ethics inspection team concluded after an inquiry that there was no evidence of wrongdoing. Ahn's camp and Gov. Kim's side, however, pushed back, saying the inspection was sloppy, leading to assessments that the primary was dogged by controversy from start to finish.
Immediately after the results were announced, Lee said, "I will embrace all the wounds and passion, big and small, from the primary process and move forward solely for Jeonbuk's development." A two-term lawmaker, Lee served as a Blue House secretary under Moon Jae-in and as Jeonbuk vice governor for political affairs, and then won consecutive elections in the 21st and 22nd general elections in the Jeonbuk districts of Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan.
Meanwhile, in the primary for the Jeju governor candidate, no one won a majority, sending preliminary candidates Wi Seong-gon and Moon Dae-rim to a runoff, while incumbent Gov. Oh Young-hun was eliminated. The Jeju runoff vote will be held from the 16th to the 18th.