Incumbent Gov. Kim, six-term lawmaker Choo declare bids for Gyeonggi governor

Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon announces his bid for the June 3 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election near Anyang Station, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap

Incumbent Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon and six-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday declared their bids for the June 3 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election.

Kim, who is seeking reelection, vowed to work "on the ground" and in line with President Lee Jae Myung's vision during a press conference in Anyang Station, Gyeonggi Province.

"My utmost priority is making the Lee Jae Myung administration a successful one," he said, pledging to construct around 800,000 housing units and attract 200 trillion won in investment during his term.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announces his bid for the June 3 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Earlier in the day, Choo also announced her bid, vowing to make Gyeonggi Province a province where its residents can take pride in, while promoting AI-driven governance and youth job creation.

The Gyeonggi Province governor race is shaping up as a five-way contest with the entries of Kim and Choo, who are widely seen as front-runners in the upcoming election.

The DPK plans to hold a preliminary primary from March 21-22 to narrow the field to three candidates before holding the final primary from April 5-7.