Official Seoul Mayoral Candidacy Declaration in Front of Hongdae Sangsangmadang
"Hoping Energy Can Gather Through the Primary"
Former leader of the Democratic Party Song Young-gil is holding a press conference to announce his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral election in the June 1 local elections at Sangsangmadang Plaza in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. / Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral election in the June 1 local elections, expressed surprise at the internal party discussions about endorsing former leader Lee Nak-yeon, saying, "I find it puzzling why such talks are happening about someone who said they would not run," but added, "If he decides to run, he would be very welcome."
On the 17th, after holding a press conference declaring his candidacy for Seoul mayor in front of Sangsangmadang in Hongdae, Seoul, Song responded to reporters' questions about the 'Lee Nak-yeon endorsement theory' in this manner.
Song said, "Didn't former leader Lee say he would not run?" and added that if Lee does run, "I hope that through the primary election, our energy can be united as one."
Regarding the criticism within the party about his Seoul mayoral candidacy and whether he is considering early resignation from his parliamentary seat to overcome this, Song dismissed the idea, saying, "My thought is to submit the resignation letter once the candidate is decided."
He continued, "Isn't the deadline for resignation from the parliamentary seat for local election candidacy April 2? Therefore, the party should quickly decide on the candidate within April," and pointed out, "If the party wastes time like this, claiming the election is unfavorable, it is the party leadership itself that is eating up the time needed to strengthen our candidate's competitiveness."
He stated, "In the current situation, how can we find a candidate who can beat Mayor Oh Se-hoon through opinion polls? The important thing is to start the process of enhancing our candidate's competitiveness through the primary election as soon as possible, even if just by a day," expressing caution about the internal party discussions endorsing former leader Lee Nak-yeon.
Meanwhile, former leader Lee Nak-yeon has not made any specific statements regarding the possibility of running for Seoul mayor. Within the party, there are demands for a strategic nomination of Lee as a countercandidate against Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, while candidates who have already declared their intention to run are voicing opposition, suggesting that conflicts over the candidate selection method are likely to continue.
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