[6.3 Election] Ji Youngbae Counters 'Tripartite Coalition'..."Choose Wando's Future, Not Just Numbers"

April 20 Press Conference: Emphasizing Leadership Over Coalition Size
On Incumbent Governor Endorsement Rumor: "I Respect the Decision," Avoids Escalation

Ji Youngbae, the Democratic Party's preliminary candidate for Wando County Governor, has countered the so-called "tripartite (Woo Hongseop, Shin Euijoon, Heo Gunghee) policy coalition," which has emerged as the core of the party's primary landscape, by emphasizing that "politics is about direction, not numbers," thereby focusing on the importance of individual leadership. This move is interpreted as a strategic bet to break through the situation by highlighting his image as a "budget expert" capable of overcoming Wando's challenging local finances, rather than getting caught up in political engineering and coalition-building tactics.

On April 20 at 3 p.m., Ji held a press conference at his campaign office, where he articulated his position on the tripartite coalition and various local political issues point by point.

Candidate Ji Young-bae held a press conference on the 20th and stated his position on the tripartite coalition and local political issues. Courtesy of the source

The main topic of interest at the press conference was his response to the so-called "incumbent county governor endorsement rumor," which alleged that the current Wando County Governor, Shin Woochul, had expressed support for the tripartite policy coalition. In response, Ji said, "Regardless of the truth, I believe the governor's decision was made after due consideration and for his own reasons, and I respect that."

While blocking any escalation or negative exchange, he stressed, "Rather than evaluating the choices of specific individuals, I will focus on what kind of future the people of Wando desire."

Regarding the fact that his former rivals, Shin Euijoon and Heo Gunghee, had joined Woo Hongseop's camp, Ji humbly admitted, "There were shortcomings on my part." At the same time, he emphasized tolerance, stating, "Rather than simply opposing the coalition, I will propose better alternatives."

To differentiate himself from Woo Hongseop, the single spokesperson for the tripartite coalition, Ji asserted his credentials as an "administrator." He highlighted a painful statistic: Wando County's fiscal independence rate for next year's budget is only 6.3%.

He stated, "What Wando needs most right now is to secure national funding," adding, "I have experience in both central and local government, having served at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Jeollanam-do Provincial Office, and I have an extensive human network in central ministries such as the Ministry of Planning and Budget. I will prove my abilities through results, not just words."

Addressing concerns about potential discord after the primary, Ji drew a clear line by saying, "I will accept the results of the primary gracefully," and left the door open for party unity, stating, "After the election, I am willing to work with anyone for the development of Wando." He concluded by appealing for support, saying, "Please choose the future, not sides."

A local political insider commented, "Ji's press conference is an attempt to shift the current dynamic, shaped by a large coalition force in a multi-candidate race, into a 'politician versus administrator' framework." The insider further analyzed, "By addressing the fiscal independence rate and highlighting his ability to secure national funding, Ji made a strategic statement that directly addresses Wando County's most pressing realities."

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