Jang Je-won Not Running in Sasang-gu, Challenges Strategic Nomination
"The Right Person to Execute a 5 Trillion Won Regional Project"
“Who else but the person leading the 5 trillion won-class Sasang projects, built through the sweat of Assemblyman Jang Je-won, will reap their fruits?”
Kim Dae-sik, a preliminary candidate of the People Power Party running for the 22nd general election in Busan Sasang District, held a joint interview with the media to share his reasons for running and future plans. He asserted that while the current assemblyman designed the hardware, he himself is the software who will realize the dreams and will.
The Sasang District electoral district, where he is running, is the stronghold of Assemblyman Jang Je-won, known as a key figure of the so-called ‘Yunhaekgwan’ faction, who secured three terms in the 18th, 20th, and 21st National Assembly and blocked the opposition’s Nakdong River belt construction on the western Busan front. In the 19th general election, former President Moon Jae-in was elected, and currently, parts of the neighboring Saha and Buk Districts are ‘controlled’ by the opposition, creating a sandwich-like political landscape.
After jumping from being a professor into the political world and then returning as a university president, his decision to run was decisively influenced by Assemblyman Jang Je-won’s announcement not to run. There had long been a public opinion that Kim Dae-sik was the only suitable successor or ‘right-hand man’ to inherit Jang’s political assets.
On the 2nd, at his campaign office, we heard his statement on running.
First, Candidate Kim explained his reason for running. He started with the general principle: “For the uninterrupted development of Sasang.”
“I came to Busan at the age of 16 to make a living, and Sasang warmly embraced the poor boy Kim Dae-sik,” he expressed affection.
He said, “I worked hard labor at the port during the day and studied at night, eventually graduating from university and becoming a professor,” emphasizing that he raised three children while serving as a professor in Sasang for 35 years. He also participated in creating the ‘Sasang District Citizen Charter’ when Sasang, separated from Buk District, opened its new district office, highlighting his identity as a ‘Sasang person.’ He is originally from Honam, sharing the same hometown as former Assemblyman Lee Nak-yeon.
Candidate Kim straightforwardly stated that he is running to fill the void left by Assemblyman Jang Je-won, a great worker who laid the foundation for regional development worth 5 trillion won.
Regarding the situation where multiple candidates are competing due to Jang’s withdrawal, he cited the theory of capable talent. He claimed that he is the only candidate who can work skillfully from the first day of receiving the badge.
He boasted, “I have held key government positions such as Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission at the vice-ministerial level, Secretary General of the National Unification Advisory Council, and have built extensive experience and human networks as the head of the Yeouido Research Institute, the country’s top policy think tank, and as a member of the Presidential Transition Committee.”
He added, “To make Sasang the center of western Busan, I have received long-standing projects from all district council members,” emphasizing, “I will incorporate this ‘Sasang list’ into my pledges and work hard to secure the budget.”
Candidate Kim presented the ‘Sasang-type New Deal’ as his representative pledge, pledging to devote efforts to transforming Sasang into an international business city behind the Gadeokdo New Airport. He also promised to complete a metropolitan transportation network connecting the airport and downtown, establish Busan’s second city hall and a digital enterprise support center, and build advanced infrastructure such as Sasang Dream Smart City.
He pledged to promote projects such as Busan’s second BEXCO and Samnak Ecological Park National Garden, create Baekyangsan National Recreation Forest, and develop Sasang into a tourism-rich area with themed shopping facilities like Starfield.
When asked about the most urgent ‘local issue,’ Candidate Kim answered directly that it is to attract young people. He emphasized, “Jobs and companies are basic, but the political goal is to radically remodel the educational environment to the extent that people say ‘I’m moving to Sasang,’ creating a ‘Sasang rush’ phenomenon.”
“The current Sasang District National Assembly member is not a position to boast to residents by securing small budgets of about 1 to 2 billion won. Sasang is a busy workplace that must nurture the seeds of the 5 trillion won projects planted by Assemblyman Jang and harvest their fruits,” he said, urging voters to choose someone with overwhelming experience who understands government budget processes and can be deployed immediately after the election. He emphasized the ‘difference’ in character by highlighting his career.
Currently, Busan Sasang District qualifies for strategic nomination by the People Power Party. Candidate Kim is competing for the strategic nomination against Song Sook-hee, former Sasang District mayor and Busan City’s special advisor for women. He stressed, “Once the strategic nominee is confirmed, everyone must support the People Power Party candidate according to the party’s orders.” He added, “Even if I lose, I will first visit our party’s general election candidate,” questioning, “Should we hand over Sasang District to the Democratic Party?”
During the campaign period, Candidate Kim plans to approach neighbors with sparkling ideas such as the ‘1 person 10 minutes a day’ interview experience, where he directly ‘reports’ and draws out motives for Sasang’s development by meeting voters, and sensitive campaign activities like warming business cards with hot packs to convey warmth.
He predicted that the Kim Dae-sik campaign office lights will be on from 3:30 a.m. until late at night, reflecting his belief that his recognition among constituents is somewhat lacking due to his career as a strategist or so-called tactician on the big political stage.
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