Choo Mi-ae Launches Bid for Gyeonggi Governor Ahead of June Local Elections

Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae formally announced her bid to become governor of Gyeonggi Province in the June local elections, saying she would build a province that residents can be proud of.

Speaking at a news briefing in the National Assembly, Choo said, “If reform is needed, I will push through it head-on,” and pledged to lead the province with “responsible administration and practical administration.”

She also cited President Lee Jae-myung’s governance during his time as Gyeonggi governor, arguing that the province needs a shift toward governance centered on administration and decisive leadership.

Choo outlined a platform to make Gyeonggi “the center of Korea’s innovative industry” and to provide good jobs for young people, while promising a fair, corruption-free province with no special favors or cheating.

When asked whether she would retain the chairmanship of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, she said that with the government’s prosecutors reform bill finalized, she would back the reform legislatively and strive to deliver results, stressing that her candidacy is not tied to that post.

Other Democratic candidates for Gyeonggi governor include lawmakers Han Jun-ho and Kwon Chil-seung, former lawmaker Yang Ki-dae, and current governor Kim Dong-yeon.

Gyeonggi Province surrounds Seoul and is the most populous local government in Korea, serving as a major engine of the national economy with extensive manufacturing and tech activity. The outcome of the June election could influence regional investment, regulatory climate, and the broader national policy environment, including initiatives tied to reform of law enforcement and governance that matter to multinational firms, supply chains, and investors.