Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party, declared his candidacy for party leadership on July 9, stating, "Without Honam, there is no country and no Democratic Party." The announcement came a day after he made his initial declaration at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, and he held a separate press conference in Gwangju to appeal to the sentiments of voters in Honam ahead of the party convention scheduled for August 17 in Daejeon.
During the press conference at the Gwangju City Hall, Song emphasized, "Whenever the party has been on the brink, it has always been Honam that saved it."
He added, "When President Lee Jae-myung and the government accelerate development in Honam, the party must provide strong support." He particularly highlighted the importance of connecting Gwangju's semiconductor industry, Jeonnam's AI and data centers, and Jeonbuk's Saemangeum and future energy sectors to complete South Korea's industrial map.
Song also promised four key pledges to Honam voters: ensuring fairness in the selection of public office candidates, holding regular town hall meetings, providing full support for the development of Gwangju, and establishing Honam as a core hub for semiconductors and AI.
Furthermore, he stated, "I will unite the wavering Democratic Party again," and pledged to create a party that delivers results and supports the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, aiming for victory in the upcoming general elections and the restoration of the party's power.
In addition to Song, other candidates for the party leadership include former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, lawmaker Ko Min-jeong, and former Gangjin County Council Chair Kim Bo-mi. Former party leader Jeong Cheong-rae is also expected to announce his candidacy soon.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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