Kim Young-chun, Now to Busan... Resigns as Secretary General of the National Assembly

Secretary General of the National Assembly Kim Young-chun. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Park Cheol-eung and Jeon Jin-young] Kim Young-chun, Secretary General of the National Assembly, will retire on the afternoon of the 28th. It appears that the ruling party's most likely candidate for the Busan mayoral by-election is preparing to fully enter the election battle.

In a phone call with Asia Economy on the same day, Secretary General Kim said, "I am not officially announcing my candidacy for the Busan mayoral election, but I plan to go down to Busan and engage in political activities."

Secretary General Kim served as a member of the National Assembly in the 16th, 17th, and 20th sessions and was the first Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under the Moon Jae-in administration. He had previously attempted to run for Busan mayor several times but was unsuccessful.

A Democratic Party official said, "For this Busan mayoral election, Secretary General Kim Young-chun is the most likely Democratic Party candidate, and it is expected that Byeon Seong-wan, acting mayor of Busan, former Busan City Council chairman Park In-young, and Democratic Party international spokesperson Choi Ji-eun will compete."

Although he lost in the April general election running in a Busan district, this time he intends to run on the platform of constructing the Gadukdo New Airport. Secretary General Kim appeared on CBS Radio on the 17th and stated, "Whether it is by acclamation or primary is not important. If the Democratic Party firmly promises to handle the Gadukdo New Airport in February, I will definitely run."

According to a public opinion poll commissioned by Asia Economy to Win-G Korea Consulting conducted on the 12th and 13th among voters residing in Busan, Secretary General Kim ranked first in suitability among Democratic Party candidates but trailed by more than 15% in a hypothetical one-on-one race against Park Hyung-joon, a leading candidate from the People Power Party.

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