Meeting with Busan district chiefs

'I will be coming to Busan very often'

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok meets with Busan district chiefs at the party's Busan chapter office in Dong-gu, Busan, on Sunday afternoon. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok meets with Busan district chiefs at the party's Busan chapter office in Dong-gu, Busan, on Sunday afternoon. [Yonhap]

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Sunday he is committed to building a solid political foundation in Busan through the next general election and local elections.

Kim made the remarks at a meeting with local district chiefs at the party's Busan chapter office, the final stop of a three-day visit to the city.

"Making sure that the Democratic Party's renewed steps in Busan lead to the general election two years from now and the re-election bids of those here in four years — that is the homework we all share," Kim said at the meeting.

He added that the party should "start the work of becoming yet another responsible party in Busan," and pledged to visit the city with a sense of personal responsibility. "I will come with the resolve to directly oversee Busan throughout my term, including the period leading up to the general election," he said.

Kim has in fact been investing heavily in Busan since taking office, having chaired four Supreme Council meetings there and convening a budget policy conference in the city two weeks ago.

"I think I will be coming so often that counting the visits will become meaningless," he said, also floating the idea of holding Supreme Council meetings in each of Busan's districts and counties in turn.

Kim described the party's current effort to build a political base in Busan as its "second step."

The Democratic Party swept the 2018 local elections in Busan, winning the mayoral race and 13 of the city's 16 district and county chief posts, but lost all 16 to the People Power Party in the following local elections.

The party recovered some ground in the June 3 local elections, reclaiming the Busan mayoral seat and seven district and county chief posts, a result widely seen as a partial restoration of its regional base.

"Our shortcomings at the time meant we failed to make the most of that opportunity," Kim said. "I think that was deeply painful for the Democratic Party."

He went on to say that past experience suggested voters' decisions on whether to support the Democratic Party were largely shaped by how well the party managed city administration, including the mayor's office. "We need to deliver results this time," he said.

Kim also praised Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo's capabilities and the administrative and legislative experience of the party's district chiefs, urging the central party, the Busan chapter and local constituency committees to actively back regional governance.

Kim has been working through a Busan schedule since Friday. It is unusual for a party leader to carry out regional field activities while the National Assembly's national audit is in full swing, and some observers interpret the visit as an early effort to shore up public sentiment in Busan — a key battleground along what is known as the Nakdong River front — ahead of the 2028 general election.


jiyun@heraldcorp.com