Candidate Kim Jongsik for Mokpo Mayor: "I Will Complete the Great Mokpo Era"

Democratic Party Mokpo City One Team Election Committee Intensive Campaign Rally

Candidates for Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik and city and provincial council candidates from the Democratic Party appealing to Mokpo citizens at the send-off ceremony site. Photo by Seunghyun Jeong

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seunghyun Jeong] Kim Jongsik, candidate for mayor of Mokpo, Jeonnam, held the ‘Democratic Party Mokpo City One Team Election Committee Launch Ceremony’ on the 19th and pledged victory together with local city and provincial council candidates.

The launch ceremony held at Mokpo Station Square was attended by about 2,000 people (estimated by Kim’s campaign), including former Prime Minister Jeong Seyeon, known as a close friend of candidate Kim, Kim Youngrok, candidate for governor of Jeonnam, National Assembly member Kim Won, Democratic Party candidates from Mokpo constituencies, citizens, and supporters.

Candidate Kim said, “I would like to once again express my deep gratitude to our respected citizens who have written the amazing changes, new winds, and winds of hope in our Mokpo with me over the past four years,” adding, “To avoid repeating the past of Mokpo where the population decreased and young people left, I have been realistically thinking and searching for solutions day and night for four years.”

The Mokpo Station square was filled with citizens and campaign workers who came to the send-off ceremony. Photo by Seunghyun Jeong

He continued, “Now, through the establishment of four major strategic industries that Mokpo can live on, we are reflecting this in national reforms and securing a budget of 100 billion won per industry to push forward dynamically.”

He also emphasized, “During the four years of the 7th local government, we were selected as one of Korea’s four major tourist cities and a cultural city, establishing plans to utilize central government budgets,” and “By attracting Korea’s eco-friendly shipbuilding complex leading the global market to Mokpo, we have laid the foundation to continue creating 49,000 jobs.”

He pledged to create 120,000 jobs based on the offshore wind power forward base of about 450 units being built near Mokpo.

He also introduced plans to attract 36 related companies through Korea’s first eco-friendly shipbuilding and the establishment of a seafood export complex, creating about 2,000 jobs.

Former Prime Minister Jeong Seyeon, known to be a friend of Mokpo Mayor candidate Kim Jongsik, visited Mokpo to show support. Photo by Jeong Seunghyun

Additionally, he explained, “Since the 7th local government, the Dae Yang Industrial Complex, which had a sales rate of only 44%, will achieve 100% sales early by the end of this month, and the industrial complex debt amounting to several hundred billion won has been fully repaid.”

He added, “Anyone can be a mayor, but doing well is extremely difficult,” and “There are 243 mayors and county heads in Korea, and we must compete with these people to create hope for Mokpo. We need the ability to create good policies, persuade the central government, and secure a large budget.”

He also emphasized his close friendship with former Prime Minister Jeong Seyeon, who came all the way from Seoul to attend the launch ceremony.

Candidate Kim expressed confidence, saying, “The central connections and extensive personal networks I have were not built overnight,” and “They are the result of countless experiences, know-how, and efforts.”

Meanwhile, starting with the Democratic Party Mokpo City One Team Election Committee launch ceremony held that day, the full-scale two-week local election campaign will begin.