Nayoungmin: "Joining the Democratic Party Is Not Betrayal but Expansion for Gimcheon"... Announces Mayoral Run

"Working Together with the Lee Jaemyung Administration to Resolve Long-Standing Projects"

Na Youngmin, a preliminary candidate for mayor of Gimcheon from the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the morning of May 6, 2026. He stated, "With a sense of urgency that Gimcheon must join forces with the government to achieve change and progress in line with the national balanced development strategy of the Lee Jaemyung administration, I left the People Power Party and joined the Democratic Party of Korea." He added, "This choice is not a betrayal but an expansion for the sake of Gimcheon."

Profile photo of Na Youngmin, Democratic Party of Korea candidate for mayor of Gimcheon. Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

He continued, "Currently, Gimcheon is in a structure where the governor of North Gyeongsang Province, the National Assembly member, and the mayor are all positioned in a direction different from the central government. If at least the mayor of Gimcheon works together with the Lee Jaemyung administration, it will be a good opportunity to secure budgets and resolve long-standing pending projects in Gimcheon."

In addition, candidate Na said, "I believed that former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 12·3 Martial Law was an act of presidential governance and even shaved my head in protest. However, now that the Constitutional Court and the judiciary have ruled that the martial law was unconstitutional and illegal, I respect the judiciary's decision and would like to clearly state once again that my judgment was wrong."

Candidate Na explained, "Some people in the region sneer at me, saying, 'Do you really like holding office that much?' after changing parties. However, there are also many citizens who say, 'Gimcheon residents can lead better lives only if you work in a powerful party. We applaud and support Na Youngmin for making such a difficult choice.'"

Hwang Taeseong, acting head of the Democratic Party's Gimcheon regional committee, who attended the event, officially declared his support, saying, "What Gimcheon needs now is not a city dominated by the red party, but a city of hope created together by its citizens. After much deliberation, I decided to withdraw my own candidacy and unite with candidate Na for a Gimcheon built by its citizens, not by the party."

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