Kim Young-rok, the governor of South Jeolla Province, expressed his intention to run for early presidency, highlighting the Honam candidate theory. If the schedule for the presidential election and primaries is confirmed, it is expected that he will enter the primary race while maintaining his gubernatorial position. This approach is similar to what other politicians such as Park Won-soon, Ahn Hee-jung, Nam Kyung-pil, and Lee Jae-myung did during the 2017 presidential election following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
By using their annual leave to participate in the primaries, they were able to continue fulfilling their administrative duties and avoid criticism for abandoning their positions for personal gain. According to the current Public Official Election Act, a local government head running for president must resign 90 days before the election. However, this rule does not apply to party primaries, allowing candidates to use their annual leave and return to their duties if they do not secure the nomination.
In the event that Kim wins the primary and becomes the party’s candidate, he would need to resign 30 days before the election, and his duties would be managed by the vice governor. This would be the third time a South Jeolla Governor has attempted a run for presidency, following previous bids by Park Jun-young and Lee Nak-yon.
Kim mentioned the strong public opinion for a Honam candidate to navigate the aftermath of the impeachment situation and his desire to contribute to a major national reform and political remodeling under a renewed constitutional framework. He assured that he will continue with his gubernatorial responsibilities while participating in the presidential race. Kim has confirmed his decision to run after meeting with journalists from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.