Kim Min-seok, “I am determined to govern Busan directly during my term… I will establish the roots of the Democratic Party.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jeong-jin and Choi Joo-seong = Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 18th his intention to solidify his base in Busan through the next general and local elections.

Representative Kim held a meeting with heads of local organizations at the Busan City Party as the last part of his 3-day, 2-night visit to Busan.

Representative Kim said at the meeting, “It is the task for all of us to ensure that the Democratic Party’s renewed steps in Busan can firmly establish its roots when it leads to the general election in two years and the re-run of the people here in four years.”

He then emphasized, "Let's begin the work of becoming another responsible party in Busan," and added, "I will come with a sense of responsibility and the determination to directly govern (Busan) during my term, including the general election."

In fact, since taking office, Representative Kim has been concentrating his efforts on the Busan region by presiding over four Supreme Council meetings in Busan alone and holding a budget policy council meeting two weeks ago.

Representative Kim said, “I think there will be so many people coming to Busan (to Busan) that counting the number will be meaningless,” and also suggested a plan to hold top-level meetings by traveling to each district and county in Busan in the future.

Representative Kim described the current process of the Democratic Party building its political foundation in Busan as a ‘second step.’

The Democratic Party produced the mayor of Busan and the heads of 13 local organizations out of 16 districts and counties in the 2018 local elections, but lost all 16 to the People Power Party in the next local elections.

Afterwards, in the June 3rd local elections, he was evaluated as having regained his political base in the region by securing the Busan mayor and seven basic government positions.

Representative Kim said, “We were unable to take advantage of that opportunity due to our shortcomings at the time,” and added, “I think it is painful for the Democratic Party.”

He continued, "Looking at past experience, it seems that the decision to vote for or support the Democratic Party is to a large extent evaluated based on whether the city administration, including the mayor, is well led," and added, "We must achieve results this time."

At the same time, he positively evaluated the capabilities of Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo and the administrative and legislative experience of the heads of the Democratic Party's basic organizations, and urged the central party, city party, and regional committees to actively support local administration.

Kim Tae-seok, head of Saha-gu in Busan, mentioned the Busan National Assembly's majority-minority structure and poor financial conditions and said, "The phenomenon of low birth rate, aging, population decline, and regional extinction is worsening, and the administrative demands of residents, such as welfare and jobs, are increasing significantly, but there is not enough administrative and financial authority to support them."

He continued, “The party and local governments must look at the difficulties on the ground together and pool their wisdom.”