Kim Du-kwan "Will Decide on PK Candidacy After Seollal"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Kim Du-gwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gyeonggi Gimpo Gap), announced that he will decide whether to run in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (PK) region immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday.

On the 22nd, at the Democratic Party’s general election candidate training held at the Baekbeom Kim Koo Memorial Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Kim told reporters, "In the local elections, the citizens of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam gave us full support, but the current situation is very difficult. I am not free from responsibility in this situation, and regarding the party’s request, this time I will take a longer time to consider."

He added, "Since it is the holiday, I will visit my hometown after a long time, and after the holiday, I will decide whether to return to the Gyeongnam region."

Democratic Party PK region lawmakers had requested Kim on the 6th, saying that someone is needed to lead the PK region’s general election overall. Kim initially expressed that he could not leave his Gimpo constituency, but it is reported that he has been contemplating the party’s request and necessity. If he runs, the Yangsan area and Busan Bukgangseo-eul constituencies are considered likely.

Last week, Kim also met with Yang Jeong-cheol, head of the Democratic Research Institute, Choi Jae-sung, Democratic Party Strategic Planning Advisory Chairman, and Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam, at a restaurant in Seoul. Regarding this, Kim said, "(Governor Kim) mentioned that the shipbuilding industry in Gyeongnam is very difficult, and as a breakthrough, he talked about establishing a vision for a mega-city concept that encompasses Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, since it is difficult for each to develop independently. I expressed my encouragement for their hard work," and added, "Advisory Chairman Choi Jae-sung requested that I come to the Busan and Gyeongnam area to play a role."

Regarding his previous refusal to be drafted to the PK region, he said, "Since many Gimpo citizens strongly supported me, I could only express that position at that time, but I cannot ignore the party’s request, so I have been deeply considering it. When I ran for Gyeongnam governor, my consideration period was not long, but this time it seems it will take longer."

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