Yoo Seung-min "Kim Eun-hye's Decision to Run Greatly Welcomed... Party Members Will Decide Through Fierce Competition"

"Yoon Elected President Encouraged 'Do Well'"
Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes 'Inheritance and Reform' of Policies
Next Presidential Election "If Done Well for 4 Years, Possibility Opens"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who has announced his candidacy for Governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed a warm welcome toward People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye, who hinted at running in the same region, saying, "If she decides to run and makes an announcement, I would be very pleased."

At a press briefing held on the 5th at the People Power Party Gyeonggi Provincial Office, Yoo responded to a question about some speculating that Kim’s resignation from the spokesperson position for the president-elect might reflect the president-elect’s intentions. Yoo said, "I think there is nothing wrong with our People Power Party giving the people of Gyeonggi Province the impression that the primary process is truly heated, fierce, and conducted properly through a difficult primary in Gyeonggi."

He added, "The rules are set with 50% party members and 50% residents. I believe that if everyone competes fiercely and fairly according to the party’s rules, our party members will wisely judge who would be best as governor and who would be the best candidate for the National Assembly (Gyeonggi Governor) in the future."

Yoo also revealed that he communicated with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol after declaring his candidacy. Yoo said, "Since I declared my candidacy, I thought it was proper to inform him. The president-elect responded with general well-wishes, saying he would support me. If I become the party’s candidate, I will cooperate closely with the president-elect, especially since Gyeonggi is such an important region, and I hope to receive much support regarding various policies for the upcoming provincial administration."

At the briefing, he stated, "I will definitely inherit the successful policies of former Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung and clearly reform the parts that were wrong." He cited public postpartum care centers, COVID-19 response, and local currency as successful policies, while pointing to the basic housing experiment and other real estate policies as flawed.

He emphasized, "Having been in politics for 23 years, I have never been involved in even minor corruption. I will make Gyeonggi Province’s administration clean and upright, and bring a new wind to the public service to eliminate corruption and complacency."

He also promised, "I will implement groundbreaking reforms in the five areas that residents most urgently need: jobs, housing, transportation, welfare, education, and childcare."

Regarding a future presidential run, he said, "Who knows about the presidential election five years from now? But if I do well as governor for four years, the possibility will open up. I will leave that part open."

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