At the joint speech event — the first stage of the Democratic Party primary for the Jeonnam‑Gwangju integrated special mayoralty — candidates repeatedly emphasized their ties to President Lee Jae‑myung. Though the event was not a debate, observers noted moments of friction among some contenders.
At 2 p.m. on the 14th, the party’s central Election Commission held the preliminary joint speech at the Democratic Party headquarters to select its candidate for the Jeonnam‑Gwangju integrated special mayor.
The speaking order was △No. 3 Jung Jun‑ho △No. 6 Min Hyung‑bae △No. 4 Joo Chul‑hyun △No. 7 Lee Byung‑hoon △No. 2 Kang Ki‑jung △No. 1 Kim Young‑rok △No. 5 Shin Jeong‑hoon.
Candidates led with campaign slogans such as △“An integrated special mayor the president wants,” Kim Young‑rok △“Someone who will make the president shine, someone who will make the Democratic Party shine,” Kang Ki‑jung △“The architect of integration, a new leader for Honam,” Jung Jun‑ho △“I will build a Jeonnam‑Gwangju that can beat Seoul,” Joo Chul‑hyun △“Lee Jae‑myung’s promise, our side,” Shin Jeong‑hoon △“A president‑backed integrated special city — Min Hyung‑bae will get it done,” Min Hyung‑bae △“A prepared Lee Byung‑hoon with experience across Jeonnam, Gwangju and central government,” Lee Byung‑hoon. Four candidates explicitly invoked the president in their slogans.
Jung argued that, had he not been the first to propose the Jeonnam‑Gwangju integration special law, the Lee administration’s “five poles, three specials” policy would have been at immediate risk of repeal. He urged voters to back a candidate who understands President Lee’s thinking, looks ahead, and can turn the plan into success.
Min emphasized his long association with President Lee, saying he has worked alongside him for 16 years since Lee’s time as Gyeonggi governor and even released a video from that period.
Min recalled that, “In 2010, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae‑myung and Gwangsan District Chief Min Hyung‑bae met, and over 16 years we built a shared history of politics and policy and earned each other’s trust.” He said he was the first Honam lawmaker to declare support for the president and that, during the fight against prosecutorial dominance — including the turbulent period around prosecutorial reform (commonly referred to as ‘검수완박’) — he even resigned from his party in protest, risking everything to help make Lee president.
Min added, “A special mayor must know the president so well they can communicate with a single look. I can enter action alongside President Lee without delay,” pledging to lead the president‑backed integrated special city to success.
Joo Chul‑hyun said that during the 2022 presidential campaign he was the only National Assembly member from Jeonnam to openly support Lee, and that as a senior party official he stood up to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He argued this record makes him the candidate most in sync with the Lee administration.
Kang criticized candidates who, as the election approaches, try to claim closeness to the president simply to ride his coattails. “What we need is someone who will make the president shine, not someone who flaunts thin ties,” he said.
Kang said that when he and Governor Kim Young‑rok pushed integration during a Jan. 2 visit to Mangwol Cemetery, many called the idea impossible; some urged waiting four years. But Kang said he trusted President Lee’s sincerity and was confident of success, indirectly referencing an earlier, more cautious “wait until 2030” stance on integration.
Kim Young‑rok said that when President Lee raised the idea of merging regional governments to promote national balanced development, Kim was the first to propose a grand union of Gwangju and Jeonnam. He said the president pledged support beyond expectations — even stretching resources if necessary — and that commitment helped make the integrated special city a reality.
Shin Jeong‑hoon highlighted his role as chair of the National Assembly’s Public Administration Committee, saying he shepherded the administrative integration special law through the legislature. He positioned himself as the president’s governance partner with phrases such as “Lee’s pace is Shin Jeong‑hoon’s pace; Lee’s sensibility finds its finish in Shin Jeong‑hoon.”
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