Kim Kwang-jin, Former Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, "I Will Take the Lead in Political Change and Innovation in Honam"

Official Declaration of Candidacy for the National Assembly Election in Gwangju Seo-gu Eul District

Also Announces Five Promises Including the Creation of a Community Sports Hub

Former Gwangju Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy Kim Kwang-jin officially declared his candidacy for the National Assembly election.

On the morning of the 15th, Kim announced his candidacy for the 22nd National Assembly general election in Gwangju Seo-gu (Eul) constituency at Uncheon Reservoir Square in Seo-gu, Gwangju, and presented five promises.

Former Gwangju Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor of Culture and Economy Kim Kwang-jin officially announced his candidacy for the National Assembly election in the Seo-gu (Eul) electoral district of Gwangju on the 15th, shouting slogans together with his supporters.
[Photo by Yoon Ja-min]

Before declaring his candidacy, he spoke about his dream: ▲ A city where each citizen’s tomorrow shines, where people build stable lives and families through their respective professions, and where devotion to the local community overflows in everyday life ▲ A just nation where what is right overcomes what is strong, not a ruthless world where the strong defeat the right ▲ A country where citizens do not worry about politics, but politics soothes the pain of the people and embraces their lives with high efficacy.

He stated that he is running in this general election by gathering the hearts of citizens who share this same dream.

Kim said, "The instability of Seo-gu politics over the past decade has been holding back the development of Seo-gu. With coalition nominations, strategic nominations, and party defections continuing, Seo-gu politics is losing its center," adding, "I will shift Seo-gu politics from a one-person-centered politics focused on individual politicians and a central politics that blindly follows regardless of right or wrong, to a community politics that grows with local residents and develops together with the region."

He continued, "I started my political career 12 years ago as a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, served as a National Assembly member for four years during the 19th National Assembly, worked as a senior official including Political Secretary in the Moon Jae-in administration for three years, and served as Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy of Gwangju for one and a half years alongside Mayor Kang Ki-jung. Through these experiences, I know better than anyone the mechanisms of operation and budgeting of the National Assembly, central government, and Gwangju city," introducing himself. "In addition, through a network of tens of thousands of high-level contacts, I also have the know-how on when and whose influence to utilize at any given time."

He added, "During my one and a half years as Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, I achieved the designation of a 1 million pyeong national future car industrial complex and a 2 million pyeong specialized materials and parts complex, opening the path for Gwangju to become a leading city in the future car industry, creating jobs by growing the industry. Also, relocating the air defense artillery that had occupied the summit of Mudeungsan for 57 years and passing the Gwangju Military Airport Special Act through the plenary session within a year were based on my four years of experience on the National Defense Committee in the National Assembly," he evaluated himself.

He also said, "Attracting the three complex shopping malls of Hyundai Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, and Starfield, persuading companies, representing the city as a party to the tripartite consultative body, and mediating conflicts with small business owners to ultimately secure investment was greatly aided by the connections and policy capabilities I built at the Blue House with large corporations," emphasizing, "Now, I will pour my proven abilities and experience into the development of Seo-gu and Gwangju. I will complete the great transformation of Gwangju and the major change of Seo-gu at the center of a bigger and opportunity-filled Gwangju."

Kim’s five bright promises are ▲ Establishing a base space for recreational sports ▲ Making Seo-gu a good place to raise children ▲ Resolving transportation inconveniences ▲ Early completion of ammunition depot relocation ▲ Healthy leisure activities.

Looking at the details, first, he plans to fully develop the area around the World Cup Stadium and Yeomju Gymnasium into a "Sportainment Town" combining sports and entertainment through private investment, creating a high-quality cultural and recreational sports hub.

Second, to make Seo-gu a good place to raise children, he promised to develop the area around Pungam Park into an Art and Science Park, including a dog playground, creating a space where children and family communities can share everyday life together.

Third, to alleviate the economic burden and transportation inconvenience for local residents when traveling, he plans to establish direct routes from Gwangju Airport to Incheon Airport and Gimhae Airport.

Fourth, he promised to complete the relocation of the ammunition depot early and lead public development of the depot site in Gwangju, creating economic and industrial momentum for Seo-gu and attracting cultural and educational facilities.

Lastly, unlike other districts along the Yeongsan River, he plans to link the unused space around Seochang with Gwangju’s Y Project and create recreational sports spaces including park golf courses, enabling healthy leisure activities for all ages, including seniors.

Kim said, "I live in Pungam-dong with my wife, who has lived there for over 20 years, my son who is entering Unri Elementary School this year, and my four-year-old daughter attending Dongbu Centreville daycare," adding, "I will create visible and tangible changes in Seo-gu, where my children and I will live for a long time."

He continued, "While others find a hundred reasons why something cannot be done, I will open the way with one reason why it can be done. Kim Kwang-jin will stand at the forefront of change in Honam politics and fundamental political innovation," and added, "I am the same Kim Kwang-jin who, as a special committee member for the Sewol ferry disaster investigation during the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations, revealed the truth and meticulously pointed out government failures. I will become the opposition lawmaker most feared by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and stop this administration’s reckless actions."