Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok officially declared his candidacy for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea on Monday at Jeonil Building in Dong-gu, Gwangju.
"The Lee Jae Myung government must succeed, and the top priority for that is achieving reform within the Democratic Party, the ruling party," Kim said. He added that he chose the venue as the first stop in laying out his bold vision for a Democratic Party that wins again, calling Gwangju "the roots of the Democratic Party and the heart of the May 18 spirit."
Kim said his motivation for entering the race stems from a deep sense of responsibility for the success of the Lee Jae Myung government.
Kim traced his political journey from becoming the youngest National Assembly member at age 32, through 18 years outside office, to becoming prime minister at 62, citing his work on hosting the APEC summit, securing an AI hub, and managing the medical community dispute and the National Election Commission crisis as key achievements.
"I am the only person among party figures with the experience of directing and leading to victory in local elections, a general election and a presidential election. When it comes to supporting state affairs and winning the general election, Kim Min-seok is the answer," he said. "If we are not urgent and strict now, we could sink into the swamp of a general election defeat. Party members must turn out to vote overwhelmingly and make the decisive choice to change the leadership," he said.
sij@heraldcorp.com
