"Whenever there is an election, I run as a professional politician, but I no longer want to walk that path"
"I believe it is right to give opportunities to other challengers"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-chun announced that he will not run in the upcoming Busan mayoral election in June. Along with this, he declared his retirement from politics, stating that he intends to "end his life as a politician and return to the people."
On the same day, Kim posted on Facebook, "I am quitting politics," and explained, "Fundamentally, due to my anguish over my political role, I will not run in this Busan mayoral election." He added, "Throughout the presidential election period, I had a fundamental time of reflection on whether I should continue to be active on the political front."
Kim said, "Now is not the era of grand discourses such as democracy, unification, and breaking vested interests, but the era of everyday politics. What is more important to the people is solving issues related to livelihood and everyday happiness," and noted, "It has become an era where people vote for candidates who can better address these issues or cast punitive votes against the ruling party if they fail to do so." He continued, "If the era of grand discourses that led me into politics has ended and the era of everyday politics has arrived, I asked myself whether I am a politician suitable for this. I no longer want to walk the path of a professional politician who runs every time there is an election."
He said, "I thought it would be right to give opportunities to other challengers," and added, "I hope this is seen not as a generational issue but as a personal issue of having been in politics for too long."
Kim concluded his post by saying, "I intend to find ways to contribute as a citizen for the happiness of the people and the good development of the country," and added, "Reflecting on the simple saying, 'Life is short and there is much to do,' I will start a new voyage."
Born in Busan, former Minister Kim served as a three-term member of the National Assembly and as the first Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under the Moon Jae-in administration. He ran for Busan mayor in the April 7 by-election last year but was defeated, and he had been considered one of the leading Democratic Party candidates for the Busan mayoral election in June this year.
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