Sim Sang-jung: "Determined to Win at All Costs as It May Be the Last"

Fourth Presidential Bid
"Breaking Free from 34 Years of Entrenched Power, Now a Need for a Paradigm Shift... I Will Open an Era of Responsible Coalition Government"
Declares Full Run in Next Year's Presidential Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Shim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate embarking on her fourth presidential campaign, declared her determination to "win without fail with the resolve that this is the last time." Thanks to high evaluations of her 'main competition capability,' Shim, who surpassed former leader Lee Jeong-mi?who had emphasized 'generation change'?by a margin of 2.24 percentage points, expressed her intention to secure the Justice Party's position amid the major two-party confrontation.

Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, is paying respects at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 13th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 13th, Shim appeared on MBC Radio and said, "I believe that the sincerity and will of myself and the Justice Party will resonate with the people, breaking away from the entrenched vested interests election that has lasted 34 years." In the previous day's Justice Party presidential primary runoff, Shim received 51.12% support, announcing her fourth presidential bid. She lost to then leader Kwon Young-gil in the 17th presidential election Democratic Labor Party primary, withdrew midway in the 18th election (Progressive Justice Party), and supported Moon Jae-in, the Democratic United Party candidate. She completed the 19th presidential election and has declared she will complete the 20th presidential election as well.

Shim questioned, "Do the major two parties' primary processes currently include 'the people' and 'the future'?" and criticized, "Even during the presidential election, we should examine the lives of the people and discuss how to improve them, but is there anything other than Hwacheon Daeyu and the prosecution's indictment scandal?" She also pointed out, "People think, 'The candidate is Shim Sang-jung, but can a small party govern?' and that is why the lesser evil choice has always been forced among the major two parties." She emphasized, "Now, a paradigm shift is necessary," and urged, "We must elect Shim Sang-jung as president and open an era of responsible coalition government." She dismissed unification talks with the Democratic Party and instead proposed 'reverse unification.' She also highlighted the political responsibility of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (current Governor of Gyeonggi Province), as the final approver of the 'Daejang-dong project.'

Shim named the introduction of a 'four-day workweek' as her representative reform agenda. She said, "It reflects the aspiration for our citizens' lives to become like those in advanced countries, and a solid vision and policies are prepared for this." Along with this, Shim put forward the dismantling of the real estate speculation republic as a major pledge. In her final acceptance speech the previous day, she promised, "We will block the root causes of inequality," and pledged to start fundamental solutions with the 'three new land public concepts principles' centered on land excess profit tax, the one household one house principle, and strengthened development profit recovery.

On the day, Shim visited Maseok Moran Park as her first schedule after becoming the Justice Party presidential candidate to pay respects at the graves of the late Roh Hoe-chan, Justice Party leader, and martyr Jeon Tae-il, among other national democratic martyrs. She is scheduled to visit the Gwangju May 18th cemetery and Bongha Village thereafter.

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