2026 Gyeonggi Province Election: What Kim Dong-yeon and Han Jun-ho Learned from Their Defeat

[Herald Economy = Ahn Se-yeon] Kim Dong‑yeon and Rep. Han Jun‑ho, who were eliminated in the Democratic Party’s primary for Gyeonggi governor, said on the 7th that they accept the primary results with humility.

Right after the party announced the final primary results, Kim posted on Facebook: “I humbly accept the choice of residents and party members,” adding, “I fell short in many ways.” He also wrote, “I hope Rep. Chu’s dedication to the Lee Jae-myung administration and to Gyeonggi Province will shine.”

Kim said he will carry out every responsibility assigned to him to the end, with “a humbler stance and greater urgency — for the Lee Jae-myung administration, for the Democratic Party, and for our neighborhoods across the province’s 31 cities and counties.”

Rep. Han likewise wrote on Facebook that he accepts the results humbly, saying, “Although my campaign ends here, I will remain committed to the direction we pursued together with my rivals until the end.”

He said his sole reason for running for Gyeonggi governor was “to ensure the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration,” and pledged, “I will pour everything I have into making sure President Lee is recorded and remembered in history as a successful president.”

Earlier, So Byung-hoon, chair of the Democratic Party’s central election committee, announced that Rep. Chu Mi-ae won a majority in the final primary held from the 5th to the 7th and was selected as the party’s candidate for the Gyeonggi governor race in the June 3 local elections.

The final primary was a three-way contest among Rep. Chu, incumbent Governor Kim Dong‑yeon, and Rep. Han Jun‑ho.

Under party rules, the candidates’ rankings and vote shares were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Kim — who registered as a preliminary candidate with the National Election Commission on the 20th of last month and had his duties suspended — is expected to resume his duties as early as tomorrow, according to sources.

Gyeonggi’s administrative first deputy governor, Kim Seong-joong, is currently acting as governor.