Ha Heon-sik, Advisory Member of the Presidential Transition Committee, Announces Candidacy for Gwangju Mayor Election

"Leading the Realization of Democracy by Upholding the Gwangju Spirit"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Ha Heonsik, an advisory member of the Presidential Transition Committee, has announced his candidacy for the Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City.

On the 6th, Ha held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council and stated, "I am running in the conservative party's barren land solely to become a mayor who creates jobs and to work together with the citizens of Gwangju."

He continued, "This election will decide whether Gwangju will make a great leap forward once again for future generations," and emphasized, "In response to recent major incidents, the People Power Party has formed a 'Collapse Accident Countermeasure Special Team' composed of lawyers, experts, lawmakers, and practitioners, actively working on the issue, with me participating as the practical manager for the Gwangju region."

He also urged, "The National Assembly must face the reality where the ruling party holds 180 seats and is destroying democracy in the name of democracy through legislative dominance," and argued, "We need a powerful mayor who can end one-party monopoly and communicate with the new central government."

Furthermore, he explained, "I will work together with the great citizens of Gwangju to inherit and elevate the Gwangju spirit and take the lead in realizing substantive democracy."

For a "Gwangju where everyone is happy with jobs," Ha proposed ▲attracting a comprehensive shopping mall ▲relocating the military airport site and creating a green smart city centered on the 4th industrial revolution ▲establishing a specialized AI semiconductor complex and AI metaverse convergence city linked to the National AI Data Center and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology ▲founding an AI gifted high school ▲building the foundation for the AI industry ▲establishing a future mobility leading city ▲early completion of the ultra-high-speed highway between Gwangju and Yeongam ▲early commencement of the Gwangju-Daegu Moonlight High-Speed Railway ▲establishment of the May 18 International Institute for Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights ▲construction of the Southwest Nuclear Medical Center centered on Gwangju industry ▲and supplementing systems for small business owners and youth as the core of the regional economy.

Meanwhile, Ha is known to have played a significant role in leading the Honam Together Declaration, which allocated the second electoral district in the Honam region to People Power Party lawmakers. At the end of last year, he received a letter of appreciation along with encouragement from the citizens of Gwangju for securing budgets related to Gwangju Metropolitan City, accomplishing tasks that even local lawmakers could not, as an out-of-office party branch chairman.