Gwangju Nam-gu Mayoral Race: Democratic Party Primary Centers on Policy Debate

Five preliminary candidates—Kim Yong-jib, Ha Sang-yong, Hwang Kyung-ah, Seong Hyeon-chul, and Kim Byung-nae—are competing in the Democratic Party's primary for Gwangju's Nam-gu mayoralty, focusing their policy debates on strategies to counter the crisis of regional decline, centered on the dual pillars of 'change' and 'continuity.' The candidates held a joint rally on the 21st at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, presenting different solutions to address structural crises such as population decrease and commercial stagnation in an effort to gain voters' support.

Candidate Kim Yong-jib proposed job creation through industrial complex revitalization, while candidate Ha Sang-yong suggested recovering the alleyway economy. Candidate Hwang Kyung-ah presented a strategy combining youth support and welfare, and candidate Seong Hyeon-chul emphasized on-site administration.

The preliminary candidates, including Kim Byung-nae who is running for a third term, plan to determine finalists through a nationwide participatory primary next week.