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Incumbent Kim, six-term lawmaker Choo both declare their bids for Gyeonggi governor

Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 17:35

Democratic Party Rep. Choo Mi-ae leaves the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting room on Sept. 16, 2025. [YONHAP]

Incumbent Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon and six-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday both declared their bids for the June 3 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election.

Kim, who is seeking re-election, vowed to work “on the ground” and in line with President Lee Jae Myung's vision during a press conference in Anyang Station, south of Seoul.

“My utmost priority is making the Lee Jae Myung administration a successful one,” he said, pledging to construct around 800,000 housing units and attract 200 trillion won ($135 billion) in investment during his term.

Earlier in the day, Choo also announced her bid, vowing to make Gyeonggi a province that residents can take pride in while promoting AI-driven governance and youth job creation.

The Gyeonggi governor race is shaping up as a five-way contest with the entries of Kim and Choo, who are widely seen as front-runners in the upcoming election.

The DP plans to hold a preliminary primary from March 21 to 22 to narrow the field to three candidates before holding its final primary from April 5 to 7.

Yonhap