The Jinju mayoral race in South Gyeongsang Province is emerging as a key battleground in the June 3 local elections. Although conservative party candidates have consistently won there in past elections, signs point to a split in the conservative vote after the incumbent mayor, excluded from the People Power Party nomination, left the party and declared an independent bid.
Currently, the Jinju mayoral race features Gal Sang-don of the Democratic Party of Korea, Han Kyung-ho of the People Power Party, and independent Cho Gyu-il. Cho, the incumbent mayor, won election with the Liberty Korea Party in 2018 and with the People Power Party in 2022, securing a second term.
Cho again sought a third term as the People Power Party's candidate, but the party's South Gyeongsang chapter excluded him from nomination and finalized former head of future capability at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration Han Kyung-ho as its candidate. Han is a former bureaucrat who served as director-general of fiscal management and as social budget deliberation officer at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Cho rejected the party's decision and declared an independent run. On the trail, instead of the People Power Party's symbolic red, Cho has been wearing a white jacket, earning the local nickname "white party." Observers say he is maintaining support based on his name recognition and organization as the incumbent mayor.
Han is seeking to distinguish himself from Cho by emphasizing the "legitimate conservative lineage." Recently, he unified with the Our Republican Party candidate, strengthening his rationale as the conservative contender. The competition between the two has also escalated into cross-complaints.
The People Power Party's South Gyeongsang chapter recently filed a complaint with investigators against Cho and members of his campaign on suspicion of demanding bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The party alleged a demand for money and valuables in connection with a city-procured materials supply project ordered by Jinju City.
In response, Cho pushed back, calling it "a political scheme with not even a connecting link," and said he "will hold those involved legally accountable."
As competition intensifies among candidates in the broad conservative camp, Gal is moving to rally the progressive bloc. Gal recently achieved a single candidacy with Progressive Party candidate Ryu Jae-su and formed a joint election committee that includes the Progressive Party and civic groups.
A recent poll showed Cho leading beyond the margin of error. In a survey conducted by research firm Innertac Systems for News Gyeongnam over two days from May 14 to 15 of 1,004 Jinju voters aged 18 and older, Cho received 44.8% support. Gal had 25.2%, and Han had 22.8%.
The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, and the sample was drawn using 80% wireless virtual numbers and 20% landline RDD. The response rate is 6.2%. For details, refer to the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.