Seoul: Yang Hyang-ja, a member of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s supreme council, has been nominated as the party's candidate for the Gyeonggi Province governor in the upcoming local elections scheduled for June 3, the party announced on Saturday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the PPP's nomination committee revealed the results of a primary held from Thursday to Friday, solidifying Yang's position as the party's representative. Yang is recognized for her remarkable career trajectory, having ascended to an executive role at Samsung Electronics in 2014, after beginning her journey at the company as a vocational high school graduate in 1985 without a college degree.

Yang transitioned into politics in 2016, when she was recruited by former President Moon Jae-in, who was then leading the Democratic Party (DP). She successfully earned a seat in the National Assembly in 2020. In the upcoming election, Yang faces a significant challenge from DP Rep. Choo Mi-ae, a seasoned six-term lawmaker who previously served as justice minister under the Moon administration. The governorship of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea's most populous region with approximately 14 million residents, is at stake.

There is also speculation regarding whether Yang will consider unifying her candidacy with the minor New Reform Party's candidate, Cho Eung-chon. With Yang's nomination, the PPP has finalized its candidates for all 16 major provincial and metropolitan mayoral races across the nation.

The election holds historical significance, as a victory for either Yang or Choo would result in the first female governor of a metropolitan government in South Korea.