Kang Ki-jung, Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, "Will Announce Candidacy for Gwangju Mayor Next Week"

Proposal to Form TF for Adopting Regional Pledges as National Tasks Ahead of New Government Inauguration

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung is expected to announce his candidacy for the Gwangju Metropolitan City mayoral election in the nationwide local elections as early as next week.

On the 17th, Kang said, "I have completed preparations for people, policies, and the direction of the future," adding, "I will declare my challenge for the Gwangju mayoral position next week."

On the same day, ahead of the new government’s inauguration, he proposed the formation of a 'Pan-Political Forces Task Force (TF)' to adopt regional pledges as national policy tasks.

He continued, "The most important duty during a power transition period is to incorporate regional development pledges into national policy tasks through the transition committee," and said, "In a presidential system, projects reflected as national policy tasks can change the landscape of regional industries, which I personally experienced during the past five years under the Moon Jae-in administration."

He also stated, "It is really timely for Gwangju City to form a transition committee response TF," but added, "However, administrative power alone is insufficient. Having witnessed the entire process of creating and promoting Moon Jae-in government pledges such as Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) University, AI, Cardiovascular Center, Dalbit Inland Railroad, and Gwangju-type jobs as national policy tasks, we must not stop here but move further forward."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "All political forces concerned about Gwangju’s future, beyond party lines and ruling or opposition parties, must unite to form a 'Pan-Political Forces TF,'" and said, "I will also mobilize various personal networks and devote my efforts to this TF for regional development."

He added, "This period of regime change and a legislature dominated by the opposition is a time when the legislative and executive branches are expected to sometimes cooperate and sometimes clash," and explained, "In that regard, the next mayor must have political leadership that transcends party lines and can sufficiently secure and utilize networks within the central government. The role and position of the Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs was exactly that."

He also expressed his stance on the accountability of key figures from the Moon Jae-in government after the presidential election.

Kang said, "I am very proud to have served as the Moon Jae-in government’s Senior Secretary for Political Affairs," and emphasized, "If countless arrows are shot at President Moon Jae-in, I am ready to boldly take those arrows. They will be proud arrows."

He added, "The Moon Jae-in government established KEPCO University, initiated the AI complex, broke ground for the Cardiovascular Center, incorporated the Dalbit Inland Railroad into the national railway network plan, and made Jeonnam a center for green energy," and said, "The Moon Jae-in government is the only administration without a lame-duck period. It is appropriate to evaluate both the achievements and shortcomings of the Moon Jae-in government together."

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