A poll released shows Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Won-taek and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young in a razor-thin race within the margin of error in the North Jeolla governor election. The Democratic Party sent floor leader Han Byung-do on an urgent visit to North Jeolla that day.
News1's North Jeolla bureau commissioned polling firm Jowon C&I to survey 1,000 men and women aged 18 or older living in North Jeolla on the 9th to 10th, asking who is suitable for governor. The results showed 43.2% of respondents chose independent preliminary candidate Kim Kwan-young and 39.7% chose preliminary candidate Lee Won-taek.
The survey used an automated response (ARS) method with virtual mobile numbers provided by telecom companies in proportion to the population. The sampling error was ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, and the response rate was 14.8%. The gap between the two candidates was 3.5 percentage points, within the margin of error. For details, see the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.
North Jeolla is a stronghold where the Democratic Party wins as long as it fields a candidate. The party primary effectively decides the head of the local government. In this survey, party support also showed the Democratic Party at 76%, overwhelmingly ahead of the Rebuilding Korea Party at 7.5% and the People Power Party at 5.7%.
Although within the margin of error, the result showing independent candidate Kim ahead of Lee, who secured the Democratic Party's nomination, drew a "shock" reaction in political circles. In this survey, among respondents who said they support the Democratic Party, 46.8% chose Lee and 41.4% chose Kim. Even among Democratic Party supporters, it is a neck-and-neck race within the margin of error.
The North Jeolla governor race is narrowing to a showdown between Lee Won-taek, seen as aligned with the pro-Jung Chung-rae faction, and Kim Kwan-young, who identifies with the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction. After being cut off in the Democratic Party primary, Kim decided to run as an independent, turning the contest into a proxy battle between the pro-Jung and pro-Lee camps.
As the race tightens, the Democratic Party leadership appears to be in crisis. On the afternoon of the 10th, Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's chief election strategist, held a press briefing and warned that Kim Kwan-young's independent run is a "grave act against the party" and that he would be permanently barred from rejoining.
Kim's camp shot back, saying, "Under the Jung Chung-rae leadership, even if they offered readmission, there would be no accepting it, and there is even less reason to apply for readmission."
Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do also visited North Jeolla that day, held a press briefing, and visited Lee Won-taek's campaign office. At a press briefing at the North Jeolla Provincial Council, Han said, "Only if the Democratic Party candidate wins can North Jeolla's development take concrete shape and gain speed," and emphasized, "To deliver results that change residents' lives, the government, the Democratic Party, and North Jeolla Province must be one team."
Kim Kwan-young's camp assessed the poll results by saying, "The public's judgment on the Jung Chung-rae Democratic Party leadership has begun." In a commentary, Kim's camp said, "The great people of North Jeolla have delivered a stern rebuke to a political establishment obsessed with stoking 'insurrection' narratives and eliminating rivals," and added, "Old-school politics that seek to achieve political ends by tarnishing the other side has no place here."