In a recent preliminary contest for the Gyeongbuk province governor position, Kim Jae-won, a high-ranking official of the People Power Party, emerged victorious. This win means that he will compete directly against the current governor, Lee Cheol-woo, in the upcoming final contest. The contest was particularly significant as it highlights internal dynamics within the People Power Party and marks an important step towards the upcoming local elections.

On March 20, Lee Jung-hyun, the chair of the Party's nomination management committee, confirmed Kim's advancement to the final round during a briefing. Along with the announcement, there was a request from candidates to extend the campaign period due to challenges surrounding a fair election process. Responding to this, the committee agreed to extend the campaign timeline from the end of March to mid-April, indicating the party's emphasis on a competitive and fair electoral environment.

In the preliminary contest, Kim Jae-won was one of several notable candidates, including former lawmaker Baek Seung-joo, ex-Pohang mayor Lee Gang-deok, lawmaker Lim I-ja, and former Economic Minister Choi Kyung-hwan. In a related development, tensions over the party's nomination for the Chungbuk governor position had escalated following the exclusion of Kim Young-hwan from the candidacy process, but it was decided that all registered candidates would proceed with a joint contest without additional cut-offs, aiming to alleviate the ongoing controversies surrounding the nominations.