Visiting the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery... Mayor Kang Ki-jung and Others' Active Moves
Appealing for Support from Local Government Allies to Counter Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Crisis and Promote Decentralization
Choi Dae-ho, mayor of Anyang City, visited Gwangju as his first schedule after registering as a candidate for the Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
On the 9th, Choi visited the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City to pay respects to the democratic spirits and officially began his schedule.
In the guestbook, he wrote, "I will do my best to build a strong and competent Democratic Party by inheriting the will of the May spirits."
After the memorial visit, he held a press conference for his candidacy and announced pledges including ▲conducting party member opinion polls to break the ‘hardcore party member’ frame created by far-right conservative forces ▲making party members’ policies the Democratic Party’s policies ▲activating party member playgrounds including a training center using closed local schools ▲reviving district party organizations to focus support on local areas ▲100% party member selection for proportional representative candidates for basic and metropolitan council nominations ▲and making successful local government policies the representative livelihood policies of the Democratic Party.
He then paid a courtesy visit to Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jeong, asking for support as a head of local government and a comrade in local autonomy and decentralization.
At a meeting with Gwangju city council members, he said, “Thanks to our comrades in local autonomy and decentralization, the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act and the enactment of the Local Transfer Act were achieved,” and added, “If I enter the party executive, I will definitely ensure the enactment of the Local Council Act.”
He also took an extensive tour meeting the heads of the five autonomous districts in Gwangju, basic council members, and Kim Han-jong, mayor of Jangseong County.
Choi emphasized, “I am challenging the Supreme Council member position with the full encouragement and support of incumbent local government heads and former heads who are members of the Democratic Party, as a local government leader standing against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s tyranny that has plunged local governments into crisis with a record tax revenue shortfall of 56 trillion won,” and urged, “Please unite your strength in Gwangju and Jeonnam as well.”
He continued, “The reason for the government’s existence is to protect the lives and safety of the people,” and criticized, “In less than a year since the Yoon Seok-yeol government took office, there has been not a single person responsible for protecting the people’s lives in incidents such as the Itaewon disaster, the Cheongju Osong underground passage disaster, and the Marine Corps Chae Sang-byeong case.”
He added, “Please help a competent local government head enter the party executive to responsibly manage local administration and stop Yoon Seok-yeol’s tyranny, which is characterized by incompetence, ignorance, immorality, and irresponsibility.”
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