All three incumbent mayors in Suncheon, Yeosu and Gwangyang — South Jeolla Province's most densely populated cities — were swept out of office in Wednesday's local elections.
Vote counting Thursday morning showed Democratic Party candidate Son Hun-mo winning the Suncheon mayoral race with 46.85 percent of the vote, or 71,290 ballots. He defeated independent No Gwan-gyu, who sought a non-consecutive fourth term with 40.77 percent (62,040 votes), and Progressive Party candidate Lee Seong-su, who received 12.38 percent (18,834 votes).
In Yeosu, Democratic Party candidate Seo Yeong-hak won with 59.44 percent (77,767 votes), beating Rebuilding Korea Party candidate Myeong Chang-hwan, who took 36.49 percent (47,743 votes), and independent Won Yong-gyu, who received 4.06 percent. Incumbent Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong had been eliminated in the Democratic Party primary.
In Gwangyang, independent candidate Park Seong-hyeon — cut from the Democratic Party primary over allegations of running an illegal phone operation — narrowly won with 50.23 percent (40,154 votes). He edged out incumbent Democratic Party Mayor Jeong In-hwa, who sought re-election and took 46.38 percent, and candidate Park Pil-sun, who received 3.39 percent.
Suncheon, Yeosu and Gwangyang form one of South Korea's major industrial belts, home to the Gwangyang Steel Works and the Yeosu petrochemical complex, with a combined population of roughly 700,000.
In other South Jeolla races, Goheung-gun County Chief Gong Yeong-min cruised to re-election with 84.35 percent, defeating challenger Ryu Bong-jin, who received 10.59 percent. In Boseong-gun, Democratic Party candidate Kim Cheol-u won a third term with 60.58 percent, defeating independent Yun Yeong-ju, who took 39.42 percent.
parkds@heraldcorp.com
