Changwon City Council Chairperson Son Taehwa Declares Non-Candidacy in Local Election ... Marks End to Seven-Term Career as Council Member

Son Taehwa, Chairperson of Changwon Metropolitan City Council in Gyeongnam Province, declared that he will not run in the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3.

On the 11th, during a press conference held at the city hall press center, Chairperson Son stated, "Having achieved the milestone of being elected as a local council member seven times, I have decided that my tenure as chairperson of Changwon City Council will be my last, and I will not run in this upcoming local election."

He added, "Until recently, I was still struggling with the decision whether to run," and continued, "Around this time last year, after the mayoral vacancy, I considered running for mayor of Changwon based on my 26 years of legislative experience, especially as I witnessed the various challenges facing the city. Many people around me also encouraged me to run."

"However, since many candidates from the People Power Party have already announced their candidacies, I judged that it would be more appropriate for younger colleagues to be elected and take on the important role of monitoring and overseeing Changwon's challenging municipal administration, rather than me running again," he explained, outlining the reasons behind his decision not to run.

He also said, "I am 69 years old this year, and I have often felt regret seeing many politicians insist that they are indispensable and run for office until the very end, only to lose and fade away politically. I believe that leaving while people still wish you would stay is the proper way to honor the citizens," he added.

Son Taehwa, Chairman of the Changwon Special City Council in Gyeongnam Province, is announcing his intention not to run in the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

Chairperson Son reflected on his life as a local council member, saying, "I first ran for Masan City Council on March 26, 1991, but was not elected. Then, on June 27, 1995, I was elected in the simultaneous local elections. Since then, I have served three terms as a Masan City councilor and four terms as a councilor in the unified Changwon City, working for 28 years in legislative activities, striving day and night to promote regional development and enhance the quality of life for citizens."

He further stated, "I earned a master's degree in real estate and urban planning, as well as a doctorate in urban regeneration, cultivating the necessary qualities and expertise as a local council member. After being inaugurated as chairperson for the second half of the 4th Changwon City Council on July 1, 2024, I led the first-ever ESG management declaration among local councils nationwide, promoted a paperless council, and pushed for official council meetings to be broadcast live over the internet."

He said, "I served as chairperson of the special committee for the administrative investigation of Masan Marine New Town, and as chairperson of the special committee for the Sahwa and Daesang Park private development administrative investigation. I also persevered through the many challenges related to major issues in Changwon's municipal administration, such as the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, Pallyong Tunnel, and the revision of the ordinance for integrated care support, persistently demanding corrections from the executive branch."

Chairperson Son said, "It is now time to inject new blood into my district and open the way for more talented and capable local council members to come forward."

He continued, "As a member of the People Power Party, I acknowledge that this local election will not be an easy one for the opposition. I will do my best to ensure the election of my younger colleague in the district and the People Power Party candidate."

He also added, "At present, I have no specific plans for any political move. Once the party selects a candidate, I will consider at that time whether I can play a role in securing victory in the election."

In conclusion, Chairperson Son said, "Although there have been many shortcomings in my 28 years as a local council member and as chairperson of Changwon Metropolitan City Council, I promise to fulfill my responsibilities to the very end, until my term concludes on June 30. If there are any unfinished tasks, I will see them through. Once again, I express my deep gratitude for the passionate support of the one million citizens of Changwon and all my supporters."

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