North Jeolla Governor Kim Kwan-young Officially Announces Independent Run

North Jeolla Governor Kim Kwan-young officially announced his independent run on May 6 after completing his registration as a preliminary candidate for the North Jeolla Provincial Governor election in the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections. Governor Kim visited the North Jeolla Election Commission that afternoon to register as a preliminary candidate, and according to the Local Autonomy Act, his gubernatorial duties are suspended from the time of preliminary candidate registration, with Vice Governor Noh Hong-seok taking over as acting governor. With Governor Kim's registration, there are now a total of six preliminary candidates for the North Jeolla gubernatorial election, including three affiliated with political parties and three running as independents. Kim Kwan-young, formerly a governor, chose to run as an independent after being expelled from the Democratic Party last November over 'cash distribution' allegations, marking the first registration of a sitting governor as an independent preliminary candidate in North Jeolla.

Meanwhile, the 'North Jeolla Reform Movement Headquarters for the Eradication of Sedition Forces and Realization of Social Grand Reform' (the headquarters) issued a statement on May 6 criticizing Governor Kim Kwan-young's candidacy and urging his immediate indictment and withdrawal from the gubernatorial race. The headquarters pointed out that Governor Kim was investigated by the police over allegations of 'illegal cash distribution,' which they cited as the decisive reason for his expulsion from the Democratic Party. Governor Kim has repeatedly claimed he did not collude with sedition, stating he maintained his usual security posture and that the government building was not closed off. He also stated that he would retire from politics if indicted by a special prosecutor.

Separately, the Participatory Autonomy Jeonbuk Citizens' Alliance questioned the willingness to uncover the truth regarding the controversy over the payment of meal expenses related to Representative Lee Won-taek, noting that an investigation has not even commenced.