The Democratic Party Continues to Focus on Busan Public Sentiment After Seollal... Meeting Again in Busan on the 18th

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea continues its efforts to win over public sentiment in Busan even after the Lunar New Year holiday. Following visits to Busan by ruling party leaders on the 21st and 29th of last month and the 9th of this month, they will gather once again in Busan on the 18th for a policy discussion. With the passage of the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act scheduled for the 26th just over a week away, attention is focused on the remarks from the party leadership, including the Busan mayoral pre-candidates, at this event.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 11th, former Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Hae-young said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "The central party plans to come down to Busan once again and meet on the 18th." The scheduled event is the Democratic Party think tank, the Democracy Research Institute’s ‘National Tour Policy Expo in Busan.’ At the policy expo held in Seoul on the 27th of last month, about a month earlier, Seoul mayoral pre-candidates Park Young-sun, former Minister of SMEs and Startups, and lawmaker Woo Sang-ho had a policy showdown.

Under the theme ‘Proposing a Vision for Busan,’ this event will feature a keynote speech by lawmaker Lee Kwang-jae, who serves as head of the party’s K-New Deal Committee and K-New Deal Headquarters, and a ‘Meeting with the Three Busan Mayoral Pre-Candidates’ is also planned. It is expected that they will speak with one voice regarding the passage of the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act.

The three Busan mayoral pre-candidates emphasize the necessity of the Gadeokdo New Airport while focusing on highlighting their own contributions in terms of their roles.

Pre-candidate Park In-young, who wrote on Facebook that he will "definitely win in the general election and protect Busan," criticized the opposition party’s ‘Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel’ as "a project that blocks Busan’s path and expands Japan’s path." He stressed, "Busan must focus all efforts on the Gadeokdo New Airport, which expands Busan’s own path."

Pre-candidate Byun Sung-wan emphasized that he was the one who led the re-verification of Gimhae Airport expansion and officially mentioned Gadeokdo as the alternative site. Byun described, "The passage of the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act on February 26 has become a foregone conclusion, a miracle created by the wishes of Busan citizens."

Pre-candidate Kim Young-chun also stated at the ruling party leadership meeting held in Busan the previous day, "If the Democratic Party had not fielded a Busan mayoral candidate, the Gadeokdo New Airport would not have come this far," and emphasized, "The special act must be passed in February to end the 15 years of false hope endured by Busan citizens." Former lawmaker Kim Hae-young said, "We will focus on ensuring the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act passes on the 26th," adding, "After all, having a Busan mayor from the ruling party will give momentum to early construction."