[6.3 Election] Paesujin: "Gwangju Politics Must Have Competition to Change"

Opening Ceremony for Jokuk Innovation Party's Gwangsan By-election Candidate Held on May 17

"Not 18 to 0, but 17 to 1"… Emphasizing the Need for Political Competition in Honam

Paesujin, candidate for the National Assembly by-election in Gwangsan District, Gwangju, representing the Jokuk Innovation Party, officially launched her campaign on May 17 by holding an office opening ceremony and a Central Election Countermeasures Committee resolution rally at her campaign office in Gwangsan District, Gwangju. More than 150 people attended the event, including party leadership, party members, and citizens.

According to the Jokuk Innovation Party, the event was attended by Seo Wangjin, head of the Gwangju City Party Committee, as well as Assembly members Kim Junhyung, Lee Haemin, Jeong Chun-saeng, Kim Jaewon, and Cha Gyugeun. In a congratulatory video message, Party Leader Cho Kuk said, "Candidate Paesujin is a comrade who endured the arduous journey of the party's founding together," adding, "She is a talented and prepared candidate who is best suited to innovate politics in Gwangju."

Bae Sujin, candidate for the Gwangsan District Constituency in Gwangju in the National Assembly by-election, representing the Korean National Innovation Party. Provided by the Korean National Innovation Party

In her candidacy address, Pae stated, "The door of the campaign office opened today is a gateway for public sentiment in Gwangsan and the spirit of Gwangju to reach national politics," and emphasized, "It is a door of change, shifting from outdated monopolistic politics to healthy political competition." She introduced herself as "Gwangju's daughter, cherished and raised in Gwangju," and said, "The history of Gwangju, including memories of secretly watching 5·18 videos with my parents as a child and the experience of tear gas, has made me who I am today."

Pae argued, "In a community monopolized by the Democratic Party, the economy is not improving and even the values of democracy are fading," and insisted, "Citizens must take a stand against the old politics that prioritize securing nominations over improving residents' lives." She further stated, "Power without checks becomes lazy, and politics without competition becomes arrogant. Changing the current 18-to-0 structure to 17-to-1 will motivate the Democratic Party to work harder and pave the way for a successful democratic government."

Pae highlighted her key campaign pledges, which include: ▲ establishing a region free from concerns about education, healthcare, and housing; ▲ building safe infrastructure for school commutes and returning home; ▲ resolving the issues of oversized and overcrowded classes; and ▲ securing national funding for the AI and semiconductor industries.

Pae declared, "With no retreat possible, I will move forward with unwavering resolve," and added, "If Gwangsan changes, Honam will change, and the Republic of Korea will change."

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