Nam Jong-seop, a four-term lawmaker representing Yongin 3, registered unopposed as the speaker candidate following the candidate registration of the Democratic Party of Korea, the negotiating bloc forming the leadership of the first half of the 12th Gyeonggi Provincial Council. After fellow four-term lawmaker Park Ok-bun of Suwon 2, who had initially been expected to run, declared she would not, Nam was effectively confirmed as the speaker to lead the first half of the council, where the Democratic Party holds an absolute majority.
The Democratic Party's election management committee at the Gyeonggi Provincial Council closed candidate registration Monday for the contests for speaker, vice speakers, and floor leader.
According to the Democratic Party, Nam registered as the sole speaker candidate, while Kim Jong-bae of Siheung 4, Kim Mi-sook of Gunpo 3, Ko Eun-jeong of Goyang 10, and Lee Sun-gu of Bucheon 2 are vying for vice speaker positions.
In addition, Ahn Kwang-ryul of Siheung 1 and Choi Man-sik of Seongnam 2 are competing for the Democratic Party floor leader post.
The candidates began their official campaigns upon registration, running through the 21st.
At the second election committee meeting held after the registration deadline, the committee decided to elect two vice speaker candidates and to nominate Nam as the speaker at the elected members' general assembly.
In the ballot number drawing, Choi Man-sik was assigned No. 1 and Ahn Kwang-ryul No. 2 for floor leader, while Lee Sun-gu was assigned No. 1, Ko Eun-jeong No. 2, Kim Mi-sook No. 3, and Kim Jong-bae No. 4 for vice speaker.
The Democratic Party floor leader will be confirmed in an election on the 22nd, and the speaker and vice speaker candidates who pass that day's vote are scheduled to be confirmed by a vote of all members at the 392nd extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, which convenes on July 7.
"With the close of candidate registration, full-fledged campaigning has begun. As provincial residents have high expectations and interest in the Democratic Party as the overwhelming first party, we will strive to manage the election fairly and transparently to the end," said Kim Sung-soo, chairman of the Democratic Party's election management committee at the provincial council. "For a fair election, we will take strict measures against third-party intervention, the spread of false information, and slander, including disqualifying candidates and requesting disciplinary action from the provincial party for those involved."
