Lee Jae-myung Visiting Busan: "Arctic Route is Important"... Park Hyung-joon: "Lee, Extremely Disappointing"

Lee Jae-myung and Park Hyung-joon Clash Over Busan's Key Issues
Lee Focuses on Busan Amid Early Presidential Election Prospects
Meeting with "Moon Jae-in's Mentor" Father Song Gi-in Canceled

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is shaking hands with Park Hyung-joon, mayor of Busan, at the Busan New Port Promotion Center in Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the morning of the 6th. At this meeting, Mayor Park asked the Democratic Party to work hard to resolve local issues such as the Special Act on Global Hub Cities, while Lee expressed differing views, stating that the Arctic shipping route issue is urgent and important. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Busan on the 6th and emphasized that "the Arctic shipping route issue is a very urgent and important matter." With the possibility of an early presidential election in May increasing, this is interpreted as an effort to secure votes by mentioning a long-standing project in Busan, a region where the opposition is at a disadvantage.

On the morning of the same day, Lee met with Park Hyung-joon, mayor of Busan, at the Busan Port Authority's New Port Business Office Busan Port Promotion Center and said, "Mayor Park mentioned that the Arctic shipping route issue is closer to an important matter rather than an urgent one, but I believe it is both very urgent and important."

Lee stated, "Although the Arctic shipping route is small in scale, a regular route has been established and is currently operating," adding, "Everyone thinks it will be actively used by the 2030s."

He continued, "The relationship between Russia and the United States is expected to improve rapidly, and there is a possibility that relations between Russia and North Korea, as well as between the U.S. and North Korea, will undergo significant changes."

Lee emphasized, "Looking at the world map, South Korea is located roughly in the middle of the Arctic shipping route, and among that, the southeastern region is a key port hub," adding, "Considering that the shipping industry is an area where first-mover advantage is significant, it may already be too late even if we start preparing now."

He added, "The provinces are already struggling, and with special circumstances overlapping, we are facing a serious crisis, so creating new opportunities is urgent," and said, "I will discuss what role Busan can play in preparing for the Arctic shipping route era centered on Busan."

Regarding regional balanced development, he said, "Strengthening local autonomy and decentralization is a policy that the Democratic Party pursues more strongly than any other political force," and added, "We will do our best to increase interest and create and implement many policies."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Busan New Port Promotion Center in Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the morning of the 6th. After shaking hands with Park Hyung-joon, mayor of Busan, he returned to his seat. At this meeting, Mayor Park requested the Democratic Party to make efforts to resolve local issues such as the Special Act on Global Hub Cities, while Lee expressed differing views, stating that the Arctic shipping route issue is urgent and important. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the other hand, Mayor Park criticized Lee, saying that the Global Hub City Special Act and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan, which are urgent issues for Busan, are more important, and called Lee "very disappointing."

After the meeting, Park told reporters, "It was ten times harder than meeting the president, but despite arranging the meeting and earnestly requesting and explaining the circumstances regarding Busan's issues, the cold response made me feel not only ignored but that the citizens of Busan were treated coldly."

He added, "I appreciate and welcome the visit to Busan, but I think this should not have happened," and said, "It is very regrettable and disappointing that a responsible political leader did not express any position or utter a single word about local issues."

Meanwhile, Lee was scheduled to meet Father Song Gi-in, known as a mentor to the late former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, but the meeting was canceled.

The Democratic Party announced through a press release that "the meeting was canceled due to Father Song's health reasons."

Father Song is a figure who led anti-dictatorship struggles and democratization efforts as part of the Catholic Priests' Association for Justice nationwide. After retiring from pastoral duties in 2005, he has voiced opinions on social issues as a senior figure in the opposition.

Since Father Song served as co-chairman of candidate Lee Nak-yeon's joint sponsorship committee during the last presidential primary, there was speculation that this meeting might be related to Lee Jae-myung's efforts toward opposition unity.