Translation result
– Hong Hee-gwan, joining Kim Cheol-jin’s campaign as campaign chair, made his first move by visiting the Honam Association and meeting Chairman Im Chung-seop
– Ban divisive regional politics; unite as Ansan citizens… his anti-regionalism message draws attention
– Gives voters a reason to break out of habitual voting… the primary is evolving from a simple organizational contest into a narrative showdown
The ruling Democratic Party’s mayoral primary in Ansan has entered a new phase.
Hong Hee-gwan, a former Democratic candidate for Ansan mayor who unexpectedly joined Kim Cheol-jin’s camp as campaign chair, targeted the Honam Association—Ansan’s largest political stronghold—in his first public move. The crucial Honam vote has begun to shift.
On April 4, Kim’s campaign said Hong, having accepted the provincial party’s decision and publicly pledging his support, visited the Ansan Honam Association with Kim immediately after formally taking the post and met with Chairman Im Chung-seop.
Notably, although Hong is from Gwangju and Jeonnam and enjoys deep trust within the association, he emphasized unity and anti-regionalism rather than mobilizing regional solidarity.
Facing Chairman Im, Hong declared, “Politics that divides citizens and foments conflict by judging people based on birthplace must be banished from Ansan for good.”
He added, “Our immediate goal is simple: genuine unity. Every citizen must tear down the walls of origin and background and come together under the single identity of ‘Ansan citizen.’”
Hong also praised the association’s long-standing service to the community and asked it to play a central role as the forge of unity that will build the framework for a new Ansan and heal divisions.
Chairman Im agreed, saying Ansan’s leap forward requires strong civic cohesion, and he expressed deep sympathy for Hong’s vision of harmony.
Political observers say Hong’s bold actions and firm messaging are, paradoxically, a carefully calculated strategy to win votes.
Ansan has traditionally had a high share of voters from the Honam region, and their support has often determined the outcomes of both the primary and the general election.
Among the seven remaining ruling party candidates, only former lawmaker Kim Cheol-min is from Honam (Jinan, North Jeolla).
Observers had expected the Honam vote to gravitate naturally toward Kim Cheol-min.
But with Hong—who is from Jeonnam and Gwangju—joining Kim Cheol-jin’s camp under the banner of a “forge of unity,” analysts expect the once-solid Honam support to begin fragmenting.
A local political insider said Hong’s remarks provide association members with psychological and political cover to break from the old habit of automatically backing candidates from their home region: supporting a non-Honam candidate like Kim Cheol-jin can be framed as a magnanimous choice in the name of Ansan’s unity.
Hong, a technocrat with an M.S. in nuclear engineering from KAIST and a résumé that includes serving as director general of the Ansan Urban Corporation and CEO of the Ansan Environmental Foundation, has moved beyond old-style displays of power to foreground a contemporary narrative of unity.
In a phone interview with this paper, Kim Cheol-jin said, “With Hong Hee-gwan’s entry and actions, the Democratic Party’s Ansan mayoral primary is shedding old habits and evolving into a pragmatic contest aligned with the Lee Jae-myung administration,” and he expressed confidence in victory.
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