The key architects behind the creation of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City are drawing attention over whether they will form an alliance against Min Hyeong-bae.
Kim Young-rok, the "proposer of integration"; Kang Gi-jeong, the "driver of integration"; and Shin Jeong-hun, the "legislator of integration" — political observers are watching closely whether these three figures will unite to build an anti-Min Hyeong-bae coalition.
Kim Young-rok, a preliminary candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea who advanced to the runoff for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City mayoral race, publicly called on the joint campaign of Shin Jeong-hun and Kang Gi-jeong — whom he called "fellow democracy movement comrades" who narrowly lost in the primary — to "join forces" on Tuesday, emphasizing balanced governance and regional equilibrium.
Kim held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council briefing room and said, "Candidates Kang Gi-jeong and Shin Jeong-hun, who ran together in the integrated mayoral race, are comrades who crossed the difficult 'river of integration.'" He added, "I will embrace and incorporate Candidate Kang's bold vision and Candidate Shin's innovative policies to advance the development of the special city."
"If I can meet with Candidate Shin, I will meet him and tell him properly that 'let us go together,' as we are comrades with a journey of ten thousand li ahead of us," Kim said. "I spoke with Mayor Kang yesterday and today, and we discussed various things we need to work on together."
Regarding policy adoption, he stressed, "I will push to comprehensively expand Candidate Shin Jeong-hun's rural basic income policy," adding, "I will also work to achieve the early completion of Subway Line 2, a long-cherished goal of Mayor Kang Gi-jeong."
"I clearly promise that in operating the integrated special city going forward, I will make balanced governance and equilibrium the top principle in personnel appointments, budgets, regional development, and industrial allocation," Kim said. "I will win and become a mayor of the integrated special city for all its citizens."
Meanwhile, Kim has been reaching out to heavyweight political figures from eastern Jeonnam, presenting tailored regional pledges to expand his support base in the area.
Kim's campaign announced that former Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong joined as standing campaign committee chairman on the same day. Earlier, former National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Seung-yong joined as standing advisor, and former National Assembly Defense Committee Chairman Kim Seong-gon also joined as standing advisor. Former Mayor Jo Chung-hun also decided to lend his support to Kim's camp.
Kim expressed his commitment to attracting RE100 semiconductor factories to Suncheon and Gwangyang and unveiled ambitious pledges including a plan to build a new "Jeonnam Central Inland Expressway" to help eastern Jeonnam's semiconductor industry expand globally. Above all, he promised to consolidate Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang into a single special-status city.