Kwangjae Lee Declares Candidacy for Wonju Gap... "Will Hold Primary Election, Not Strategic Nomination"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Former Gangwon Province Governor Lee Kwang-jae, known as the 'right-hand man' of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, announced his candidacy for the 21st general election on the 2nd.

On the morning of the same day, Lee held a press conference at the Gangwon Provincial Party Office of the Democratic Party of Korea and officially declared, "I intend to run for the 'Wonju Gap' constituency in the 21st National Assembly election."

He stated, "I have declined to run in the metropolitan area and have come to beloved Gangwon Province. I do not want a strategic nomination," adding, "I want to live with dignity. I hope for a fair and beautiful intra-party primary."

Accordingly, in the Democratic Party's Wonju Gap constituency, Lee and preliminary candidate Park Woo-soon will compete for the nomination. Preliminary candidate Kwon Sung-jung also declared his candidacy but submitted his resignation from the party and is preparing to run as an independent after Lee's candidacy was announced.

Regarding his decision to run in Wonju Gap, Lee explained, "I want to start in Wonju, where I nurtured my dreams while living away from home during middle school," and added, "It is a personal wish, but among my seven siblings, I am the only child who caused trouble for my parents. I want to work in Wonju, where my parents live."

He pledged, "I want to lead the Republic of Korea towards the future through a political revolution," and promised to place five key areas?jobs, education, healthcare, housing, and culture?that are important to quality of life at the center of his 'political goals.'

Lee was involved in student activism while attending Yonsei University and served as an aide to former President Roh during his time as a member of the National Assembly, as well as the head of the National Situation Room at the Blue House during the participatory government. He is a core figure of the pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) group, so much so that he was nicknamed 'Woo Kwang-jae, Jwa Hee-jung.'

In 2011, he was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence and a 10-year disqualification from running for office on charges of illegal political fund receipt, but he was reinstated by a special presidential pardon at the end of last year.

In particular, he is one of the symbolic figures to whom the Democratic Party is placing great emphasis in its strategy for this general election. Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan appointed Lee as the head of the Gangwon regional election committee. His history of winning two terms as a member of the National Assembly and being elected governor in the conservative-strong Gangwon region played a significant role. This indicates that the party's consideration was not solely based on his symbolism as a 'pro-Roh' figure.

It is expected that his political trajectory will change depending on the election results. Some speculate that if Lee leads the Democratic Party to victory in the challenging Gangwon region, he could rise to the ranks of presidential contenders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.