Gwangju’s Political Landscape Shifts: Why the North District Mayor Won’t Run in 2023 Elections

On February 10, Moon, the head of the Gwangju Buk-gu Office, announced that he will not run in the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3.

During a press conference that afternoon, Moon stated that he would not run for the Buk-gu mayoral election. He also declared that he would not pursue the special mayoral position for Jeonnam and Gwangju, which is currently undergoing integration.

Moon explained, “I have been preparing for a new Gwangju with the mission of addressing the livelihood issues of its citizens. However, due to changes in the political landscape and my own limitations, I have decided not to run.” He added, “Recognizing that administrative integration is just the beginning, not the end, I will continue to give my all to achieve meaningful integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.”

Previously, Moon had expressed his intention to resign on December 30, citing plans to run for Gwangju mayor in the upcoming local elections. However, he withdrew this decision just a day before his scheduled departure. This led to various speculations about his political future, but through this press conference, he clarified his decision to abandon his election plans and focus on the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Moon assessed that Gwangju currently faces challenges in terms of its industrial base, population, and finances.

He emphasized, “Only by integrating Jeonnam’s resources with Gwangju’s infrastructure can we create a springboard for progress.” Moon particularly noted, “We’re struggling to attract large corporations due to issues with power supply, land availability, and finances. We need to bolster our infrastructure through the Distributed Energy Act and the Integration Special Act to stem the outflow of young people.”

When questioned about the possibility of running as an independent candidate, Moon firmly stated, “There will be no betrayal of the Democratic Party. I am not considering running with another party or as an independent at all.”

Regarding his future plans, Moon outlined a three-step strategy: lobbying the National Assembly to pass the Integration Special Act, forming a task force to address local issues, and restructuring the system after the inauguration of the special mayor.

He stated, “The establishment of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City will be a turning point in addressing our industrial, financial, and demographic challenges. I will focus on achieving substantial integration, rather than clinging to political positions.”

As for his post-term plans, Moon said, “While I haven’t made any specific decisions yet, I’m considering how to best use my 40 years of public service experience and policy expertise to benefit our community.”

Moon was elected as the head of the Buk-gu Office in both the 2018 and 2022 local elections as a member of the Democratic Party.