Ulsan Mayor Election Unified with People Power Party Candidate Kim Doo-gyeom... Face-off Against Democratic Party Candidate Song Cheol-ho

On the 5th, independent candidate Park Maeng-woo declared support for People Power Party candidate Kim Doo-gyeom and withdrew, resulting in the unification of conservative candidates.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] About 20 days before the June 1 local elections, Park Maeng-woo, an independent conservative candidate running for Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor, abruptly withdrew on the 5th.

As a result, the Ulsan mayoral election will be a head-to-head contest between Song Cheol-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Doo-gyeom of the People Power Party.

On the same day, Park held an emergency press conference at the Ulsan City Council Press Center and stated, “I am withdrawing from the race unconditionally for conservative unification and fully support Kim, who is also a conservative candidate,” adding, “If I ran, it would become a three-way race, giving an unintended advantage to the Democratic Party. This decision was made with the determination to prevent that.”

He continued, “I believe Kim, whom I love as a candidate, has excellent drive and many ideas to lead Ulsan’s administration well,” praising him, then bowed his head and said, “As a conservative to the core, I have caused great guilt to citizens and supporters by insisting on running as an independent. I am sorry. Please forgive me.”

Following Park’s announcement, Kim said, “I am deeply grateful that Park unconditionally supported me,” and welcomed the decision, saying, “I will share Park’s philosophy and values and reflect them in the city administration.”

He added, “Conservatives have now truly formed a one team,” and appealed for support, saying, “Please give the People Power Party a chance to firmly restore Ulsan’s status as the ‘Industrial Capital.’”