Gangwon Province swings left: Democratic Party sweeps major cities, border areas

The Democratic Party swept major cities across Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province in Thursday's local elections, with its candidate Woo Sang-ho winning the governorship and the party claiming the top mayoral races in Chuncheon, Wonju, Gangneung and Donghae. (Vote counting was complete in all races as of 8 p.m. except Wonju, where 99.98 percent of ballots had been tallied.)

President Lee Jae Myung's message that "peace is a benefit for the people of Gangwon Province" appeared to resonate broadly, with border counties near the truce line delivering overwhelming support for the Democratic Party, which has emphasized peace over confrontation.

Democrats sweep Gangwon's largest cities

In the final count from the June 3 local elections, the Democratic Party won the mayoral races in the province's four largest cities, while the People Power Party took the top three smaller cities. In the 11 county chief races, the Democratic Party won seven and the PPP four.

In Chuncheon, Democratic Party candidate Yuk Dong-han won re-election as mayor, defeating PPP candidate Jeong Gwang-yeol. Yuk took 55.81 percent of the vote against Jeong's 44.18 percent.

In Wonju (99.98 percent counted), Democratic Party candidate Gu Ja-yeol won with 54.02 percent, edging out former Mayor Won Gang-su of the PPP, who received 45.97 percent.

Gangneung, long a conservative stronghold and the home turf of former lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong — who is now imprisoned — also fell to the Democratic Party. Democratic candidate Kim Jung-nam won with 51.19 percent, comfortably defeating PPP candidate Kim Hong-gyu, who received 42.53 percent. Independent candidate Kim Dong-gi took 6.26 percent. Gangneung's result signaled a broader progressive advance into the Yeongdong region.

Donghae, where conservatives had historically held a modest edge, also went to the progressive camp. Democratic candidate Lee Jeong-hak won with 51.61 percent, defeating PPP candidate Kim Gi-ha, who was limited to 44.89 percent. Reform Party candidate Kim Hong-su received 3.48 percent.

Incumbents who held on despite the wave

In Taebaek, PPP candidate Lee Sang-ho — known by the nickname "Dolsoe" — successfully defended his seat, a prime example of a candidate's personal reputation overcoming a broader political tide. Lee won with a commanding 61.67 percent, leaving Democratic candidate Kim Dong-gu at 38.32 percent.

In Sokcho, PPP candidate Lee Byeong-seon won re-election as mayor with 50.80 percent, defeating Democratic candidate Kim Cheol-su, who received 43.87 percent. Independent candidate Yeom Hana took 5.31 percent.

In Samcheok, PPP candidate Park Sang-su also won re-election, taking 55.45 percent and comfortably outpacing Democratic candidate Lee Jeong-hun at 40.11 percent. Reform Party candidate Kim Hyeong-u received 4.42 percent.

In Hongcheon, PPP candidate Shin Yeong-jae won decisively with 61.76 percent against Democratic candidate Park Seung-yeong's 38.23 percent. In Hoengseong, Democratic candidate Jang Sin-sang won by a wide margin with 50.00 percent, ahead of PPP candidate Im Gwang-sik at 32.43 percent and independent Kim Myeong-gi at 17.56 percent.

In Yeongwol, PPP candidate Kim Gil-su narrowly won with 40.52 percent after a tight race against Democratic candidate Park Seon-gyu at 39.75 percent. Independent candidate Choe Myeong-seo performed creditably with 17.14 percent.

In Pyeongchang, PPP candidate Shim Jae-guk edged out a narrow victory with 51.64 percent in a close contest against Democratic candidate Han Wang-gi, who received 48.35 percent. Shim's higher name recognition proved decisive.

Border counties chose peace over confrontation

In the border counties of Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje and Goseong, a shift in public sentiment toward peace over confrontation delivered a clean sweep for the progressive camp.

Cheorwon, however, was the exception. Despite being the hometown of governor-elect Woo Sang-ho, the PPP candidate was widely expected to win easily given the strong local name recognition of the incumbent political figure. The PPP candidate did prevail, but only narrowly — a result some interpreted as a sign that change is beginning even in Cheorwon. The Democratic Party also won in Jeongseon and Yangyang.

The vote breakdown in border and county-level races was as follows: Yanggu — Democratic candidate Kim Wang-gyu 51.45 percent, PPP candidate Seo Heung-won 48.54 percent; Inje — Democratic candidate Choe Sang-gi 52.34 percent, PPP candidate Eom Yun-sun 44.05 percent, independent Han Sang-cheol 3.59 percent; Goseong — Democratic candidate Ham Myeong-jun 54.67 percent, PPP candidate Park Hyo-dong 45.32 percent; Hwacheon — Democratic candidate Kim Se-hun 57.36 percent, PPP candidate Choe Myeong-su 42.63 percent; Cheorwon — Democratic candidate Han Geum-seok 46.33 percent, PPP candidate Kim Dong-il 47.31 percent, independent Ko Gi-yeong 6.35 percent; Yangyang — Democratic candidate Kim Jeong-jung 50.52 percent, PPP candidate Kim Ho-yeol 46.24 percent, independent Ko Je-cheol 3.22 percent; Jeongseon — Democratic candidate Choe Seung-jun 53.86 percent, PPP candidate Choe Cheol-gyu 46.13 percent.

Jeongseon's PPP candidate Choe Cheol-gyu, who had served as the longest-tenured acting president of a public enterprise and played a leading role in developing Gangwon Land, ran as a political newcomer and narrowly lost — but showed promise for the future.