Democratic Party Gwangju Chapter to Hold Joint Rally for District Mayor Nominees on the 21st
The Democratic Party's Gwangju Chapter is kicking off its full election schedule by holding a joint rally for district mayor primary candidates on March 21st at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, ahead of the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections. The event will adopt a relay format, with speaking times allocated sequentially for each of Gwangju's five autonomous districts: Dong-gu starting at 10 AM, Gwangsan-gu at 11 AM, Seo-gu at 1 PM, Nam-gu at 2 PM, and Buk-gu at 3:30 PM. Each candidate will screen a one-minute promotional video before delivering an eight-minute speech detailing their core pledges and vision for municipal governance. The chapter's election committee has implemented a system where microphones are automatically cut off after the allotted 8 minutes to ensure fairness in the primaries. Following the conclusion of each district's speech session, candidates will participate in a performance on stage to pledge fair elections.
Yoon Jong-hae, head of the primary election management committee, explained that the rally will provide an opportunity for candidates to have their capabilities and qualifications directly assessed by citizens. He added that while policy debates will be encouraged, unfounded slander and overheated competition will be rejected to foster a platform for integration aimed at regional development.
Once the joint rally concludes, the main primary voting will commence in each electoral district. For Nam-gu and Buk-gu, designated as preliminary primary areas, ARS voting will be conducted for eligible party members on March 24th and 25th. In Dong-gu, Seo-gu, and Gwangsan-gu, the final candidates will be selected through a public participation primary method, reflecting a 50% weighting for party members and 50% for the general public, over three days from March 24th to 26th. For Dong-gu and Gwangsan-gu, if the leading candidate does not secure a majority, a runoff election will be held to determine the final nominee.