Every winner in Gangwon Province's June 3 local elections must have been surprised by the results — and the province's voters must have been quietly congratulating themselves on the wisdom of their choices.
The Democratic Party took the governorship, while the ruling party led in city and county executive races 11 to 7. Yet in terms of land area, the governor-elect's support fell below 50 percent in most cities and counties, and the provincial assembly ended up with the ruling party in the minority.
National politicians watching Gangwon's electoral upheaval likely concluded they need to rethink how they treat voters.
Many races in Gangwon were decided by narrow margins. The ruling party, having seized the initiative in the province for the first time, will need to read public sentiment more carefully than its predecessors. Meanwhile, opposition mayors, county chiefs and local assembly members who had assumed they would win by something like a 7-to-3 margin got a sharp reminder to stay humble.
The newly elected heads of Gangneung, Donghae and Hwacheon — cities where a reform-aligned force won a local executive post for the first time since civilian self-governance began — wore noticeably serious expressions, their smiles restrained. That gravity suggests they hold their constituents in genuine awe and are expected to govern with more diligence than their predecessors.
The winners' congratulatory gathering held Monday at Sky Convention in Chuncheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, brought together an accomplished crowd — yet not a single person in the room put on airs.
The voters' verdict had been stern and exquisitely balanced, and every winner felt in their bones that one misstep could bring swift public rebuke.
The event, co-hosted by regional media outlets including Chuncheon MBC, G1, Gangwon Domin Ilbo and Gangwon Ilbo, was attended by Governor-elect Woo Sang-ho along with mayors-elect, county chiefs-elect and provincial assembly members-elect from across the province.
Seemingly aware that putting party interests ahead of the public's would be a grave mistake, the mayors and county chiefs spoke with one voice — pledging "service" and "harmony."
The biggest applause of the evening went to Lee Sang-ho, the opposition-affiliated mayor-elect of Taebaek — who shares a given name with the governor-elect but differs in surname and party affiliation. "I will pursue integration at the provincial level and integration in Taebaek," he said, adding with a play on his own name: "Sang-ho will work with Sang-ho."
Other opposition-affiliated local executives-elect also struck a conciliatory tone. Yeongwol-gun County Chief-elect Kim Gil-su said he would "work alongside Democratic Party Governor-elect Woo Sang-ho to contribute to Gangwon's development." Jeongseon-gun County Chief-elect Choi Seung-jun said he would "pursue Gangwon's development together with the county's residents and Governor-elect Woo Sang-ho," warmly welcoming the incoming governor, a heavyweight from the ruling party. Sokcho Mayor-elect Lee Byeong-seon said "there is no partisanship or ruling-versus-opposition divide when it comes to regional development."
Governor-elect Woo said he would be "a governor of unity who treats the residents of Gangwon and the representatives gathered here as precious as gold, and works to advance the province."
Superintendent of Education-elect Kang Sam-young called on everyone present to "share your strength and wisdom for a more special Gangwon Province and an education where every child shines."
Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han pledged to build "Chuncheon into a world-class city," while Wonju Mayor Gu Ja-yeol and Hoengseong-gun County Chief Jang Sin-sang both emphasized "service-oriented local governance."
Donghae Mayor-elect Lee Jeong-hak vowed to fulfill his mandate with the words "Donghae's development is Gangwon's development," while Goseong-gun County Chief-elect Ham Myeong-jun expressed his passion for securing designation as "the first peace economy special zone."
In the border region races, the opposition's Kim Dong-il won a dramatic victory in Cheorwon-gun, but the ruling party swept the remaining four border county chief posts. The results reflect residents' preference for peace over confrontation — an outcome not unrelated to President Lee Jae Myung's repeated message that "peace is a benefit."
Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-su highlighted "Samcheok's new leap forward," Hongcheon-gun County Chief Shin Yeong-jae called for "sincere politics," and Yanggu-gun County Chief Kim Wang-gyu stressed "a new Yanggu." The ninth round of civilian local government terms begins July 1.
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