[Interview] ‘Kim Tae-ho’s Right-hand Man’ Choi Ki-bong, Former Secretary to Gyeongnam Governor, Announces Candidacy for Geochang County Governor Election

"Geochang Is Heading Toward a Greater Crisis... Using Policy Experience to Transform It into a Land of Opportunity"

Choi Ki-bong, former Chief Secretary to the Governor of Gyeongnam Province.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Choi Ki-bong (59), former secretary to the Governor of Gyeongnam Province and known as the right-hand man of National Assembly member Kim Tae-ho, has announced his candidacy for the Geochang County Governor election in the nationwide local elections to be held this June.

In an interview announcing his official candidacy, former Secretary Choi said, "I have long been thinking only about the future of Geochang," adding, "I am running for county governor to transform Geochang, which is designated by the government as a 'population decline area' in crisis, into a land of opportunity."

In 2018, he also ran in the party primary against the then incumbent county governor Goo In-mo as a member of the Liberty Korea Party but withdrew his preliminary candidacy, pointing out the bias of the Gyeongnam Provincial Party’s Public Official Election Commission.

In the upcoming June Geochang County Governor election, the People Power Party candidates include incumbent Goo In-mo seeking re-election, former Secretary Choi, Kim Ki-beom, director of the Geochang New Deal Research Institute, Park Kwon-beom, former director of Gyeongnam Province, and former county governor Lee Hong-gi.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is expected to field county council member Choi Jeong-hwan, and former county governor Yang Dong-in is expected to run as an independent candidate.

Former Secretary Choi expressed his reasons for running in an interview with this paper.

He said, "Currently, as policy advisor to Assemblyman Kim Tae-ho, I am directly attending all events on behalf of the assemblyman to ensure no neglect in managing the constituency," conveying Kim’s message and communicating with the local community.

He added that he is extremely busy listening to residents’ voices, securing budgets for civil complaints, and finding solutions.

- You are known as a close aide to Assemblyman Kim Tae-ho. How did your relationship with him begin?

"He is one year my senior in high school, but we actually started working closely together after I began my public service career in 1982. While working at Geochang County Office, I was appointed as secretary to Kim Tae-ho, who was elected county governor in 2002, and we became political comrades."

Former Secretary Choi said that when Assemblyman Kim Tae-ho gave up his third term as governor in 2010, they both became private citizens. When Kim was elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 2011 by-election for Gimhae City Eul district, Choi was appointed as his policy advisor.

After Kim did not run in the 2016 general election and became a private citizen again, he was re-elected in the 2020 general election and reappointed as advisor. This long-standing partnership is why he is called the "Kim Tae-ho man" or the assemblyman’s "right-hand man."

- How would you summarize your career as an assemblyman’s aide?

"When Kim Tae-ho was elected governor in the 2004 by-election, there were many pressing local issues, and coordinating opinions among local governments was one of the most important administrative tasks. We carried out large-scale projects such as the Masan Changwon Bridge, Geoga Bridge, Ramsar Convention, World Women’s Human Rights Conference, Namhae Special Act, humanitarian inter-Korean exchange projects, visits to many countries, and attracting businesses. I only remember running around to ensure there were no gaps in budget cooperation with central government ministries."

He added, "Looking back, my relationship with Assemblyman Kim Tae-ho was that of political partners and comrades who could rely on each other."

- Do you have any clear distinctions compared to other candidates?

"With 28 years of public service, experience as secretary to the governor, and policy advisor to a member of the National Assembly, I have a strong personal network built through my unique affinity in Gyeongnam Province, the National Assembly, and the central government. Especially, I fully understand the characteristics of both central government and local governments and know very well how to cooperate to achieve maximum results. I am a prepared candidate and a studying candidate, which is my strength."

- What would you write as your declaration for the county governor election?

"Choi Ki-bong has long thought about and pondered the future of Geochang. Having served in public office in Geochang County, Gyeongnam Province, and the National Assembly, I have worked from a broader perspective than anyone else. My job has been, and will continue to be, to look down to the grassroots level and listen to the voices of residents. I am accustomed to new challenges. I will become a county governor who takes on new challenges for a new future Geochang and turn the crisis of Geochang into an opportunity. I will gift Geochang and its residents the best city with future potential for the Republic of Korea."

Former Secretary Choi Ki-bong was born in 1962 in Songjeong-ri, Geochang-eup, Geochang County. He graduated from Geochang Agricultural High School in February 1981. He graduated from the Department of Economics at Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology in 2008 and completed doctoral coursework in Political Science and Diplomacy at the same university’s graduate school.

In December 2010, he received a presidential citation in recognition of his contributions to national social development, and in December 2015, while serving as policy advisor to Assemblyman Kim Tae-ho, he received the Korea Legislative Aide Award.