"Park Geun-hye Has Not Met External Figures Yet... Wants to Greet Them First When Opened"
Former Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun is declaring his candidacy for the Jeonnam governor in the June 1 local elections at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Lee Jung-hyun, former Saenuri Party leader who declared his candidacy for governor of Jeollanam-do in the June 1 local elections, stated on the 5th that he will run the election without the help of former President Park Geun-hye, President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, or party leader Lee Jun-seok.
On the same day, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' and said, "Regarding the Jeonnam governor election, I do not want to receive external help nor will I request it. I want to purely conduct Lee Jung-hyun's politics."
He added, "Running for Jeonnam governor as a member of the People Power Party actually requires one's own decision and determination, regardless of the party leadership or any other circumstances. No one can encourage someone to run in that region because the election atmosphere does not allow it. This is purely Lee Jung-hyun's politics, Lee Jung-hyun's decision, and the determination that Lee Jung-hyun has contemplated," emphasizing his point.
He continued, "In the case of Honam, it can be said that it has been the politics of Jeonnam for a long time. For example, since 1995, five governors have been elected nine times consecutively from a specific party in mayoral and gubernatorial elections. Whether it was governors, mayors, or county heads, elected officials who should purely demonstrate leadership for the lives of local residents have tended to follow a political flow specific to the region, a political Jeonnam," and raised his voice, "I hope that at least once, a policy confrontation for change will take place in the election, and I myself will not request help from the central party."
Regarding Jeonnam, Lee said, "The past 27 years have been the time of the Democratic Party. If we try to change this anew, we need to diagnose Jeonnam first," and continued, "For example, Jeonnam’s coast is a ria coastline. It is the longest ria coastline in the world, with 2,600 large and small islands right in front of it. Also, tidal flats form and return along Jeonnam’s coast. If we show this to people who have never seen the sea, I believe it is very good as a tourism condition. Jeonnam has many advantages that other regions do not have," and expressed his candidacy aspirations, "I want to first accurately diagnose our conditions and environment and then find solutions based on that diagnosis."
Regarding contact with former President Park, he drew a line, saying, "Former President Park does not open up to or meet any outsiders or external figures yet. If she opens up, I would naturally want to be the first to visit and greet her."
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