[Full Text] Sim Sang-jung: "I Will Fulfill My Final Duty... I Will Seek Reconfirmation from the People"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Shim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, stated on the 17th, "No matter how exhausting and difficult the path is, I will not give up until the end," and added, "In this presidential election, I will seek the renewed trust of the people for Shim Sang-jung and the Justice Party."

Below is the full text of the press conference statement.

I apologize for causing concern to the people due to the sudden suspension of the election campaign over the past few days. I also ask for forgiveness from everyone who experienced confusion due to the schedule disruption despite taking precious time for me. Additionally, I sincerely thank the party members and citizens who worried about me and encouraged me.

The reason I paused the presidential election schedule is not simply because of the approval ratings. It is because, during the campaign, I realized that the distance between myself and those with whom the Justice Party should join hands was vast.

By temporarily halting the overwhelming schedule, I deeply reflected in silence on what exactly is wrong with the current regrettable situation where I have not won the hearts of the citizens and where change must begin.

I promised the people to create a "country where labor is dignified" and a "just welfare state." Over the past 20 years of progressive politics, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to keeping that promise. However, as a result, inequality in our society has become more severe. Neither I nor the Justice Party could prevent this.

I will not blame others. I will not say that all of this is due to the tyranny of the two major parties. I will not say it was inevitable because the party is small. I will not say I am unfairly treated.

The most unfair are the citizens who must live this bleak reality day by day.

I, Shim Sang-jung, am part of the politics that created this world of inequality and discrimination. I feel infinite responsibility. Still, I sincerely apologize for not meeting the expectations of the citizens who supported me, believing that there must be at least one progressive party playing its role in Korean politics.

I wanted to do politics that not only shed tears with the vulnerable but also improve their lives with greater power. To fulfill that mission, I put everything into electoral system reform but did not succeed.

In that process, the principles of progressivism were greatly shaken. I humbly acknowledge my painful misjudgment. I bow my head and apologize to all those who were hurt and disappointed in that process.

And I promise.

I, Shim Sang-jung, will never stop here.

In the face of worsening inequality

and the increasingly entrenched reality of vested interests,

progressive politics for the vulnerable is more urgent than ever,

no matter how exhausting and difficult the path is,

I will not give up until the end.

So that the junior progressive politicians who will continue this difficult path

do not feel the despair of starting again at a cliff’s edge,

so that the next generation of progressives can stand proudly toward the future, building on the 20 years of progressive politics with Shim Sang-jung,

I will fulfill my final duty.

In this presidential election,

I will seek the renewed trust of the people for Shim Sang-jung and the Justice Party.

I will properly reflect and properly rise.

Values and principles will become clearer.

I will become more earnest for the poor and desperate citizens.

I will listen to the voices of the citizens and become humble.

To establish a new foundation for progressive politics in this presidential election,

I have carefully considered what should and should not be done.

I, Shim Sang-jung, will no longer do three things.

I will not blame others for difficult situations.

I will not be swayed by approval ratings.

I will not avoid difficult and challenging tasks.

And I will do three things going forward.

I will represent the silenced voices in this election

with a bigger microphone as Shim Sang-jung.

An election where labor disappeared,

an election where women disappeared,

an election where the climate crisis disappeared,

I will make the voices of women, labor, and the environment

resound powerfully once again.

First, I will discuss important issues

that should have been debated earlier but have been sanctified as if they were taboos of progressivism.

I will make tabooing taboos.

Finally,

I will actively engage in dialogue with those who think differently.

I will conduct a presidential election that restores common values of our society

that can be universally empathized with beyond political camps.

Humbly, confidently,

in this increasingly harsh era of inequality,

with the dream of progressive politics never abandoned,

I will move forward to the end together with you who cannot give up.

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