[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Nak-yeon, has begun full-scale momentum-building in Busan following Gwangju.
On the 9th, Lee attended the inaugural general meeting of the ‘Gadeok New Airport Promotion New Welfare Busan Forum’ (hereafter ‘New Welfare Busan Forum’). The day before, he had attended the inaugural general meeting of the ‘A Country That Protects My Life, New Welfare Gwangju Forum’ (abbreviated as New Welfare Gwangju Forum). After going into seclusion following the April 7 by-election defeat, he appears to be making a show of strength in both Yeongnam and Honam regions.
At the New Welfare Busan Forum, National Assembly member Choi In-ho, who served as chief spokesperson during Lee’s tenure as party leader, was appointed as co-chairman. Democratic Party National Assembly members Park Jae-ho and Jeon Jae-su serve as special advisors. Additionally, among the 39 Democratic Party metropolitan councilors in Busan, 38 participate, along with 84 of 88 basic councilors and 10 of 12 basic local government heads, including Busan City Council Chairman Shin Sang-hae and former Chairman Park In-young.
Special advisors include Father Song Ki-in, Monk Jeonggak, and Bae Daji, representative of Minjok Plaza. Participants also include Do Deok-hee, president of Korea Maritime University; Kim Hong-gu, president of Busan University of Foreign Studies; Professor Kim Hong-soo of Pusan National University, who served as the first education and culture secretary in the Moon Jae-in administration; former Ulsan Polytechnic College Dean Na Jong-man, who was director of the Oryukdo Research Institute; and Professor Kim Jwa-gwan of Busan Catholic University. Co-representatives of the New Airport Promotion Headquarters Lee Ji-hoo, Busan branch head of Heungsadan Park Dong-beom, and National Minyechong executive representative Lee Cheong-san also joined.
Representing business leaders, former Busan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Heo Yong-do and Hyungji Group Chairman Choi Byung-ho participate as advisors. In the religious sector, Beomsan Monk, former co-representative of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, Ji-il Monk of Naewon Jeongsa Temple, Jeong Jong-sul, auditor of the Catholic Busan Diocese Lay Association, and Bang Young-sik, co-representative of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Religious Union, are involved.
Professor Kang Kyung-tae of Silla University, who serves as secretary-general of the New Welfare Busan Forum, stated, "To realize the construction of Gadeok New Airport, we will complete all possible administrative procedures such as preliminary feasibility studies within the Moon Jae-in government, and work together to ensure that the next government begins construction of the new airport in 2024." He added, "We will prepare various initiatives to encourage citizen participation through expert forums so that Korea can become a ‘society that prospers together,’ enjoying welfare benefits at an advanced country level across all areas of citizens’ lives."
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