As of April 10, a total of five incumbent metropolitan and provincial leaders have declared their candidacy for the upcoming presidential election and are entering the primaries in their respective parties. From left, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Governor of North Gyeongsang Province Lee Cheol-woo, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok (all from the People Power Party), and Governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Dong-yeon (from the Democratic Party of Korea). Kyunghyang Shinmun DB

Following the impeachment of the former President Yoon Suk-yeol, sitting metropolitan and provincial leaders have been declaring their candidacy in the early presidential election on June 3. They will use up their annual leave to travel back and forth between local governments and the political hub of Yeouido in Seoul. Of course, they will continue to receive salaries and allowances during this period.

There is little risk in losing a presidential primary race within their parties. They can simply return to their posts as governors or mayors, and in many cases, their presidential bids may actually help raise their political profile. This could serve as a springboard for re-election in the local elections set to take place next year.

This is why some have criticized the idea that certain local government heads with less than 1 percent approval ratings are jumping into the presidential race to gain publicity as "presidential candidates.”

By April 10, three metropolitan and provincial leaders from the People Power Party (PPP) announced their intention to run for the presidency, including Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Governor of North Gyeongsang Province Lee Cheol-woo, and Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will announce his candidacy on the 13th. In the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is the only incumbent local leader who has announced his candidacy.

Hong Joon-pyo resigns without regret, saying he’s ‘heading to Seoul in pursuit of a dream’

To run in the presidential election, candidates must resign by May 4, 30 days before the election date. However, they can participate in their party’s primaries while still holding office. This is why many local leaders with presidential ambitions are opting to use their annual and vacation days. Among incumbent local government heads, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is the only one who has decided to officially step down.

Hong will resign from his post on April 11 to officially enter the presidential race. He has set up an office near the National Assembly in Seoul and plans to stay at his home in Songpa-gu, Seoul, during the primary period. Administrative Vice Mayor Kim Jeong-gi will serve as acting mayor until the local elections on June 3 next year.

Oh Se-hoon and Kim Dong-yeon expected to resign if they win party primaries

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is set to announce his presidential bid on April 13, plans to use over 50 unused vacation days to participate in the party primaries. If he secures the nomination from the PPP, he intends to step down from his mayoral post. Oh is widely considered the most prominent presidential hopeful among incumbent local leaders within the PPP.

However, criticism has emerged even within the Seoul metropolitan government over whether it is appropriate for him to remain in office while running in the primaries. One senior official from the Seoul metropolitan government said, “Saying he’ll resign only if he wins the nomination implies that the mayoral post is something he can just return to if he loses and abandon if he wins. The mayor of Seoul is not a position to be treated so lightly.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, the only incumbent local leader from the DPK to declare his candidacy on April 9, also plans to use his vacation days only when necessary during the primary campaign, while continuing to fulfill his duties as Gyeonggi Province governor. Shortly after his announcement, Kim departed for a business trip to the U.S. as governor.

Wildfire recovery on back burner as Lee Cheol-woo says, ‘I Am Park Chung-hee’

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who declared his presidential candidacy on April 9 in front of the General MacArthur statue at Freedom Park in Incheon, also plans to remain in office while participating in the party primaries. He intends to take leave for campaign activities and continue with mayoral duties when not on the campaign trail. During his absence, Administrative Vice Mayor Ha Byung-pil and Political Affairs Vice Mayor Hwang Hyo-jin will serve in acting roles.

North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo, who also officially declared his presidential bid on the same day, will participate in the primaries by using his annual leave. His administrative assistants will likewise remain in their positions and continue their duties. During the primary period, Administrative Vice Governor Kim Hak-hong will serve as acting governor.

In particular, North Gyeongsang Province is currently grappling with one of the worst wildfire disasters in its history, and authorities are expected to focus on recovery efforts. The wildfires have claimed the lives of 27 residents in the province alone, destroyed 4,203 homes, and displaced 3,368 people who are now living in temporary shelters such as senior centers. The provincial government has yet to even complete a full damage assessment, let alone begin recovery work.

Having less than 1 percent approval rating, but to raise name recognition

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo have less than 1 percent approval rating with little chance of becoming the PPP’s presidential candidates. Critics suggest their candidacies are strategic moves to raise their political profiles ahead of next year’s local elections, even if they lose the primaries.

An official from the Incheon Network for Peace and Welfare said, “If they were truly serious about running for president, they should be dedicating themselves entirely to the campaign. This just looks like an attempt to raise name recognition ahead of the local elections.”

Jo Min-ji, secretary-general of the Center for Freedom of Information and Transparent Society, said, “By ignoring pressing local issues and entering the primaries, they are deceiving voters. It’s hard not to view their bids as an effort to flaunt their political standing and prepare for next year’s local elections.”

Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province who once considered a potential presidential candidate of the PPP, announced on this day that he would not run for the presidential election. In a statement, Kim said, “Running for president should not be used as a tool to build political credentials or prepare for the next election.”