"I Will Revive Declining Gyeongbuk"
Key Pro-Park Figure and Four-Term Lawmaker
Choi Kyunghwan (age 70), former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, officially announced his candidacy for Gyeongbuk Governor at a press conference held at the birthplace of President Park Chung-hee in Gumi at 2 p.m. on January 29.
Choi declared, "With the 'can-do' spirit that created the Miracle on the Han River, I will rebuild Gyeongbuk, which is now in decline," signaling the start of a great journey toward the 'Gyeongbuk Economic Renaissance.'
Former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Kyunghwan announces his candidacy for Gyeongbuk Governor at the birthplace of Park Chunghee in Gumi.
He explained that, after traveling 15,000 kilometers across Gyeongbuk over the past several months and listening to voices from all walks of life, he has diagnosed that the livelihoods of local residents are facing an existential crisis.
Choi particularly pointed out, "While excessive ideological real estate policies and incompetent populism have neglected the disappearance of local communities, 8,000 young people are leaving their hometowns every year." He strongly emphasized that it is time for a 'governor of the economy'-someone who can read the central government's agenda and secure budgets-to step forward, rather than simply an administrative expert focused on management.
He proposed the 'Gyeongbuk Economic Renaissance' as a concrete action plan to restore Gyeongbuk's pride and revive the local economy, presenting specific measures for implementation.
Choi stressed, "What matters for a governor is not words but results, and I will now devote all of my experience leading the Korean economy through crisis to rebuilding Gyeongbuk." He appealed for support by pledging to break the cycle of 'Gyeongbuk passing' caused by indifference from the central government and to restore the pride of the province through practical leadership that breaks away from outdated practices.
Choi passed the civil service exam and built his career as an official at the Economic Planning Board in the 1980s. He served as Minister of the Economic Planning Board under the Lee Myung-bak administration and as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance under the Park Geun-hye administration, where he was known as a key figure among pro-Park factions. His economic stimulus policy, known as 'Choinomics,' became widely recognized during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister. He served four terms as a National Assembly member and, in April 2024, ran as an independent in his hometown of Gyeongsan but narrowly lost to Jo Jiyeon, the People Power Party candidate, by a margin of 1.16 percentage points.
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