In the run-up to this year's Jeonbuk Provincial Education Superintendent election, the selection process for a single candidate backed by the region's over 170 civic groups has failed. The Jeonbuk Education Reform Committee announced its decision not to endorse a Democratic Progressive candidate, citing delays in the candidate selection timeline as the primary reason. This culminated in the withdrawal of potential candidate Chun Ho-sung, ultimately disrupting the plans to unite behind a single progressive candidate.

Initially, the committee aimed to choose between the two already registered candidates, Noh Byeong-seop and Chun Ho-sung. However, following Noh's sudden announcement of his withdrawal from the race on May 5, Chun's recent decision to also retract his candidacy effectively resulted in the dissolution of the united front that the committee had sought. Noh expressed concerns about the credibility of education candidates due to allegations of plagiarism and ghostwriting among them, underscoring the problems plaguing the selection process and educational integrity in the province.

Chun, in announcing his withdrawal, indicated that he had hoped for a unified stance within the progressive camp to bring about necessary changes in Jeonbuk's education, but recognized the tumult sparked by internal conflicts, stemming from past controversies associated with him. He emphasized that he would continue to advocate for educational reforms rooted in democratic and progressive philosophies, even as he steps back from the race. This failure to nominate a single candidate reflects broader challenges within the progressive movement in Jeonbuk, raising questions about future electoral strategies and unity among progressive factions.