Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Shim Jae-cheol is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 17th to announce his candidacy for the Gyeonggi Province governor in the June 1st nationwide local elections. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Shim Jae-cheol, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly who challenged the People Power Party's gubernatorial primary in Gyeonggi Province, announced his support for Assemblywoman Kim Eun-hye on the 12th and withdrew from the preliminary race.
In a statement released that day, former Deputy Speaker Shim said, "Instead of a political calculation that our party is unlikely to win the gubernatorial election after losing by more than 5% in the presidential election, I ran for governor solely out of a sense of mission and responsibility as the longest-serving conservative lawmaker nurtured by Gyeonggi Province and a diligent worker." He added, "Recently, seeing the local elections once again become a 'presidential election season 2' with extreme factional conflicts and turmoil, I realized that my determination to return Gyeonggi Province entirely to its residents alone is insufficient."
He said, "The true meaning and dream of local autonomy are drifting away due to extreme political engineering vote calculations, including the candidacy of the defeated presidential candidate in the by-election." He continued, "I expect that the dream of Gyeonggi development I held will be well realized by preliminary candidate Kim Eun-hye, and I will work hard for the victory of all our People Power Party candidates, including candidate Kim Eun-hye, in the local elections."
Earlier, former Deputy Speaker Shim actively prepared for the Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial primary, holding an opening ceremony at his office in Jangan-gu, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province on the 9th. However, he announced his withdrawal from the primary just three days later.
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