Heo Seok, Mayor of Suncheon, Holds Press Conference Announcing Re-election Bid

Metaverse Launch Ceremony Held... Pledge Announcements in Virtual Space

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] On the afternoon of the 7th, Heo Seok, a Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidate for re-election as mayor of Suncheon, held a press conference announcing his candidacy and a metaverse (virtual reality) launch ceremony at his campaign office located in Jorye-dong, Suncheon.

First, the press conference proceeded with a declaration of candidacy and announcement of pledges attended by about 30 local journalists, followed by a Q&A session regarding current municipal issues and campaign promises.

Candidate Heo stated, “Having experienced being a first-term local government head, I was so busy dealing with tasks left by my predecessor, understanding the work, resolving chronic civil complaints, getting to know public officials, and promoting my own pledges that I was almost overworked. For the second term, I want to be chosen by the citizens of Suncheon because I can continue the work without the need to familiarize myself with the tasks or officials again.”

During the Q&A session, various questions were raised ranging from housing supply rates and apartment permits to party nomination rules.

Meanwhile, the metaverse launch ceremony was held in a virtual space with a stage and audience seating, attended by the avatar of preliminary candidate Heo Seok and 30 citizen avatars, with about 130 participants entering. Additionally, around 100 spectators joined.

Although it was a virtual space, the program included the national anthem, a virtual presentation of the pledge “Heo Seok’s Blue Wave” which is active on SNS, greetings from the candidate, and various other programs.

Candidate Heo explained, “Due to COVID-19, the realization of non-face-to-face virtual spaces through the metaverse seems to have accelerated,” and elaborated on his pledge for the “Suncheon Grand Remodeling Project.”

He then proposed, “Beyond just a launch ceremony, let’s dream together of a beautiful Suncheon.” In the metaverse, avatars went up on stage and concluded the event with a group photo.

Preliminary candidate Heo Seok is from Haeryong-myeon, Suncheon, graduated from Suncheon High School and Seoul National University’s Department of Economics, and has served as director of the Labor Issues Research Institute at Dawn, and co-chairman of the Jeonnam joint election committee for Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign.

In the 2018 Suncheon mayoral election, he was the only Democratic Party mayoral candidate elected in the three cities of the eastern Jeonnam region.