Kim Dong-yeon and Choo Mi-ae launch bids for Gyeonggi governor

Mar 13, 2026, 08:46 am

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Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon (left) and Rep. Choo Mi-ae announce their bids for the Gyeonggi governorship. /Lee Byung-hwa, Yonhap

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party of Korea has officially declared his bid for re-election, while Rep. Choo Mi-ae has also entered the race for the governorship of the key battleground province.

Earlier, Democratic Party figures Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, Rep. Han Jun-ho and former lawmaker Yang Ki-dae had also announced their candidacies. The race for the party’s nomination for Gyeonggi governor has now turned into a five-way contest.

Kim announced his candidacy at Anyang Station on March 12, promoting the idea of serving as a “working partner for the Lee Jae-myung government.”

“This election is not about choosing a party leader or Supreme Council member, but about selecting the on-site leader responsible for Gyeonggi Province,” Kim said. “A hard-working president needs a hard-working governor. I will become President Lee Jae-myung’s ‘field worker.’”

Kim pledged that Gyeonggi Province would strongly support the Lee administration’s policies on housing and economic growth.

“I will take responsibility for launching construction on 800,000 housing units and attracting 200 trillion won in investment during my four-year term,” he said.

Kim also unveiled his campaign platform titled “Plus Gyeonggi, where life gets better.” Major initiatives include a “100 million won income project for Gyeonggi residents,” halving three major living costs — housing, care and transportation — and large-scale infrastructure projects such as undergrounding railways, arterial roads and power grids.

On the same day, Choo, chair of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, held a press conference announcing her candidacy for Gyeonggi governor.

“I will make Gyeonggi a province that residents can be proud of,” Choo said.

She highlighted policies pursued during Lee Jae-myung’s tenure as governor, including disaster relief payments, the youth basic income program and the cleanup of illegal valley facilities.

“As seen in those efforts, we need leadership with strong determination and a shift in thinking that puts residents at the center of administration,” she said.

Choo pledged to turn Gyeonggi into a hub of innovative industries in South Korea and create quality jobs for young people.

“I will build a fair Gyeonggi without privileges or foul play,” she said.

Her campaign platform includes AI-driven administrative innovation, a Gyeonggi-style basic income program, a life-cycle tailored care system and the development of “five-minute cities” where essential services are within easy reach.

#Gyeonggi governor race #Kim Dong-yeon #Choo Mi-ae #Democratic Party of Korea