Min Hyung-bae’s dominant position reflects the Democratic Party’s longstanding strength in the Honam region ahead of the June 3 vote for the inaugural Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special mayor. He secured the nomination in mid-April after unifying with intra-party rivals, solidifying broad party backing before candidate registration opened on May 14. The People Power Party’s Lee Jung-hyun, nominated in late April, contends with this entrenched regional pattern where opposition candidates have historically polled below 20 percent amid high Democratic loyalty and lower opposition turnout. Recent campaign activity, including Min’s industrial and youth-focused pledges, has reinforced trader consensus on the outcome. Late scandals, depressed Democratic participation, or unexpected cross-party endorsements could still alter results, though historical voting patterns indicate substantial barriers to such shifts.