Choi Moon-soon Officially Declares Presidential Candidacy... Fourth Declaration from the Ruling Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The presidential candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea are consecutively making official declarations of their candidacy. Among the nine mentioned, four have already thrown their hats into the ring. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and Assemblyman Kim Du-kwan are expected to officially announce their candidacies within this month.

Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 3rd to officially declare his presidential bid. He is the fourth Democratic Party presidential candidate to do so, following Assemblyman Park Yong-jin, Chungnam Province Governor Yang Seung-jo, and Assemblyman Lee Kwang-jae. Governor Choi, who was elected in a 2011 by-election for Gangwon Province Governor and has served three consecutive terms, has recently voiced opinions on postponing the presidential primary and boycotting the Tokyo Olympics.

Assemblyman Lee Kwang-jae, who officially declared his candidacy a week before Governor Choi, raised the issue of constitutional reform. On the same day, Lee and Assemblyman Cho Jung-hoon of the Transition Korea party issued a joint statement emphasizing, "A new constitution that includes the state's obligations is necessary to resolve polarization and improve quality of life," and stressed that "Article 10 of the Constitution, the 'right to pursue happiness,' should be expanded to the 'right to guaranteed happiness.'"

Other candidates are also preparing to enter the race by seizing issues. Assemblyman Kim Du-kwan, who proposed the ‘Basic Asset System’ that provides 30 million won to every newborn, plans to officially declare his candidacy by holding book launch events in Seoul on the 9th and in Busan on the 14th. Former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, who has consistently urged the completion of prosecutorial reform through Facebook, is expected to announce her candidacy after publishing a collection of interviews this month.