Kim Taehoon Declares Bid for Geumsan County Governor: "I Will Make Geumsan Where Money Circulates and People Gather"

"Decided to run to turn Geumsan in crisis into a Geumsan of opportunity"

"We must go beyond ginseng and expand into industry, tourism, and youth employment"

"The key issue is not who has served as county governor first, but who is better prepared"

Kim Taehoon, former president of the Chungnam Commodity Farmers Research Federation (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

Kim Taehoon, former president of the Chungnam Commodity Farmers Research Federation (66, Ph.D. in Public Administration), held a press conference in the briefing room of Geumsan County Office on the morning of the 26th and officially announced his candidacy for the Geumsan County governor election in South Chungcheong Province, which will be held on June 3.

Kim said, "Geumsan is known as the home of ginseng, but now we must go beyond ginseng and expand into industry, tourism, and youth employment," adding, "I will create a Geumsan where money circulates and people gather."

He went on to say, "Politics is not about power but responsibility," and explained his reason for running, saying, "I decided to run in order to turn Geumsan in crisis into Geumsan of opportunity."

◆ "A prepared candidate with administrative theory and on-site experience"

Kim stressed, "The key issue is not who has served as county governor first, but who is better prepared," and added, "Together with the residents, I will build Geumsan into the most prosperous county in Korea."

Kim earned his master's and doctoral degrees in Public Administration in the Department of Community Development at Kongju National University, and he has served as president of the Chungnam Commodity Farmers Research Federation for 6 years, president of the Geumsan County Commodity Farmers Federation for 4 years, and CEO of Geumsan Local Food.

He is currently in his 15th year as president of the Geumsan County Bidanmoe Interpreters Association, working together with migrant women and continuing field-centered volunteer activities.

He described himself as "an on-site, policy-oriented candidate who combines theory and field experience," and said, "I will change the fundamentals of Geumsan through prepared administration, not experimentation."

Kim Taehoon, former chairperson of the Chungnam Commodity Farmers Research Federation (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

◆ Presentation of three key pledges

Kim presented three core visions: advancement of agriculture and the ginseng industry; establishment of a foundation for attracting young people and businesses; and expansion of fiscal resources and realization of responsible administration.

In particular, he said, "I will relaunch Geumsan ginseng as a global brand and substantially raise farm household income by combining smart agriculture with the sixth industrialization of agriculture."

He added, "To turn Geumsan into a place that young people return to, rather than leave, I will promote a 'salmon policy' for Geumsan by implementing a package of policies on housing, start-ups, and jobs."

He said, "Geumsan is a region with ample potential, but it is now time to shift from management-centered administration to growth-centered administration," emphasizing the revitalization of the local economy, the development of agriculture into a high value-added industry, the establishment of a foundation for attracting young people, and the realization of transparent and responsible administration.

◆ "Unity, not division; dignity, not attacks"

Regarding the competitive landscape, Kim said, "Elections are a competition of good faith, but county governance is about unity," and pledged, "I will engage in a dignified competition of policies, not negative politics."

Finally, he appealed for support by saying, "The county governor is not a position of power, but a position that is responsible for the lives of residents. Together with the residents, I will open a new decade for Geumsan."

Meanwhile, with Kim's announcement of his candidacy, the race for the People Power Party nomination is heating up between Moon Gyeongju, former director of South Chungcheong Province, and incumbent county governor Park Beomin, drawing intense attention from the local political community.