Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo Considers Presidential Bid... Will Decide After About Ten Days of Deliberation

At the Expanded Executive Meeting:
"I Will Listen Carefully and Make a Prudent Decision"

Lee Jangwoo, mayor of Daejeon, is presiding over an expanded executive meeting on the 8th. / Daejeon City

As the possibility of an early presidential election becomes more likely, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo stated on the 8th, "I am giving serious consideration to running for president."

At an expanded executive meeting he presided over that morning, Mayor Lee said, "I will have thorough discussions with many people for about ten days and then make a decision," adding, "As the mayor of Daejeon, who must consider the citizens and the city, I will listen carefully to opinions and make a prudent judgment."

Mayor Lee has maintained the position that a candidate from the Chungcheong region must be in the presidential race to strengthen the region's political standing in the next election.

He also expressed that if any of the governors or mayors in the Chungcheong region decide to run in the party primary, he will give them his full support, but if there is no candidate, he will seriously consider running himself.

Mayor Lee called for public officials to maintain political neutrality and discipline in response to the confirmation of an early presidential election.

He said, "In this time of national confusion, public officials must not neglect their duty to protect the safety and property of citizens," and added, "If public discipline collapses, it is ultimately the public officials who will suffer the consequences."

He continued, "Please be careful to maintain political neutrality so that there are no unfortunate incidents involving public officials," and instructed officials to focus on ensuring that the policy pledges of both ruling and opposition candidates who will be responsible for Daejeon's future are reflected in the upcoming early presidential election.

In particular, he emphasized, "Once the presidential candidates from both parties are decided, we must ensure that key issues such as the undergrounding of the Honam Expressway, the relocation of Daejeon Prison, the reorganization of Jawon University Innovation City, and the second phase of public institution relocation to local areas are properly reflected in their campaign pledges."