With about five months remaining until the Gangneung, Gangwon by-election for the National Assembly seat on April 7, 2027, the ruling and opposition parties have already entered the election race. The Democratic Party of Korea has mobilized all-out efforts, with Representative Kim Min-seok pledging to stake his party leadership on the Gangneung election results. The People Power Party is seeking revenge after losing the Gangneung mayoral seat—a stronghold for conservatives—to the Democratic Party for the first time during the June local elections.
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok attended the “2026 Gangneung ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) World Congress” held near the Gangneung Olympic Park on the 20th. Since taking office on August 17, Kim has visited Gangwon Province three times, two of which were to Gangneung. Speaking to reporters, Kim said, “Gangneung citizens will pass judgment on the responsibility and causes behind the by-election.” The by-election follows the loss of former People Power Party Representative Kweon Seong-dong’s seat after he received a confirmed two-year prison sentence for receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church. This situation is expected to favor the Democratic Party. Democratic Party lawmakers from Gangwon Province have been visiting Gangneung almost daily, appearing to engage in behind-the-scenes election campaigns. A Democratic Party official stated, “Since the party leader has already staked his reappointment on the Gangneung election, we have no choice but to fight tooth and nail. We must secure a winning candidate.” Potential candidates from the Democratic Party include Choi Wook-cheol, acting head of the Gangneung City Regional Committee; Kim Han-geun, former mayor of Gangneung; Kim Kyoung-soo, former head of the Gangneung City Regional Committee; and Jeong Ui-kyung, current Vice Minister for Transport.
The People Power Party is determined not to lose Gangneung. The day before, the party filed a complaint with the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency against Democratic Party-affiliated Governor Woo Sang-ho of Gangwon Province for allegedly spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act. Governor Woo claimed during the June local elections that a 70 trillion Korean won AI data center project had been finalized, but later stated it was not yet confirmed, which the People Power Party called an “election fraud.” The party aims to shift focus to the Democratic Party’s incumbent regional leaders to gain an advantage. In Gangneung, a conservative stronghold, potential candidates from the People Power Party include Kwon Hyuk-yeol, former chairman of the Gangwon Provincial Council; Kim Kwang-rae, former vice governor of Gangwon Province for economic affairs; and lawyers Oh Sein and Choi Don-ik, among around 10 names being discussed.
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