Kim Dong-yeon: "Many Encouragements to Run for Seoul Mayor and Gyeonggi Governor... Spoke with Lee Jae-myung a Few Days Ago"

"Considerable Encouragement to Run from Inside and Outside Political Circles"
"No Regrets About Unification with Lee Jae-myung"

Kim Dong-yeon, the New Wave presidential candidate, held a press conference at the campaign office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd, announcing his withdrawal from the race and expressing his support for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Kim Dong-yeon, leader of the New Wave party, revealed that he has been encouraged by many to run for Seoul Mayor and Gyeonggi Governor in the 8th simultaneous local elections to be held on June 1.

On the 15th, Kim appeared on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning' and said, "It is true that quite a few people have contacted me to encourage me to run (in the local elections)," adding, "I am receiving many invitations to run both inside and outside the political circle."

He said, "As someone who has deeply participated in this election, I am reflecting and somewhat reconsidering. Rather than focusing on what position I might get, I am thinking about how to realize various directions and values. I believe this is a stage to ponder further," and added, "As the party leader, I think I need to gather the opinions of party members as well."

When asked if he has received many offers to run for Gyeonggi Governor, Kim said, "I was the president of Ajou University. I have lived in Gyeonggi Province for almost 30 years," and added, "I have lived in various places such as Anyang, Uiwang, Gwacheon, Seongnam, and Gwangju, so it is true that there have been such talks in Gyeonggi." He continued, "On the other hand, I attended elementary, middle, and high school in Seoul," and also noted, "There are people who talk about me running for Seoul Mayor in various respects."

He then emphasized, "First of all, reflecting on this election, the values I have pursued during my six months in politics, political power structure reform and political change must come first."

When asked if he regrets unifying with Lee Jae-myung, former Democratic Party presidential candidate, Kim said, "I do not regret it at all because it was an agreement made for the cause of political change." He added, "We met early the day after the election and I comforted him in various ways, and we spoke on the phone a few days ago," and continued, "Candidate Lee expressed both apology and gratitude, showing his willingness to push forward with agreed tasks such as political change, political reform, constitutional amendment, and electoral district reform for a multiparty system, and I strongly urged him as well."

Regarding the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, Kim said, "I think approaching it with a 'we lost but fought well' attitude is a shortcut to failure," and added, "The current Emergency Response Committee under Chairman Yoon Ho-jung feels somewhat insufficient. First, they need to put aside their own interests and clearly show a will for change. In that regard, while I do not completely disagree with Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader, serving as the Emergency Response Committee chairman, I believe it will fall short of the public's expectations."

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