Kim Dong-yeon, Choo Mi-ae, and Han Jun-ho have advanced to the main primary in the Democratic Party of Korea's race to select its candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor. The expected three-way contest has solidified, setting the stage for intense competition for the general election ticket.
The Democratic Party announced the preliminary primary results on March 22, confirming the top three candidates as finalists. The preliminary voting was conducted over two days starting March 21, with 100% of ballots cast by registered party members. Only Gyeonggi-based members who paid dues at least six times in the past 12 months participated, determining advancement based solely on party sentiment.
The three candidates, who held advantages in party infrastructure, name recognition, and factional dynamics, cleared the cutoff as anticipated. Specific vote shares and rankings were not disclosed per party regulations.
Incumbent Governor Kim Dong-yeon demonstrated competitiveness through his name recognition and administrative experience. Six-term veteran Choo Mi-ae leveraged organizational strength backed by hardcore supporters. Han Jun-ho drew on support from the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction.
Candidates Kwon Chil-seung and Yang Ki-dae were eliminated from the race.
The main primary will be held April 5-7. Unlike the preliminary round, results will combine 50% party member votes with 50% public opinion polling. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff between the top two will follow, intensifying coalition-building efforts and last-minute vote consolidation among candidates.