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The political story of Busan Mayor Kim Young-chun is beautiful. He served as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and Secretary General of the National Assembly, and was the only third-level member of the Busan politician from the Democratic Party. Like any middle-aged politician, he could only go the “guaranteed” path. However, like when he moved the Seoul district to his hometown of Busan 10 years ago, his choice is a “challenge.” He entered the by-election for the mayor of Busan, which was almost unfavorable. On February 14, I heard her story at candidate Kim’s election office at Seomyeon Station in Busan.
-What motivated you to run for mayor in Busan?
“Busan is a very difficult situation. The population has decreased by around 500,000 in 25 years. There are also places where schools are underutilized and disappearing. If you spend 5 or 10 years like this, it becomes a city of despair that cannot survive even if you prescribe extreme drugs. It’s a difficult situation, but I thought I had to raise my gun. “
-There is also criticism for giving up the post of candidate to former mayor Oh Geodon in the past.
“In the first place, the by-elections were created as a market problem. I am not familiar with the victims and citizens at this point and I apologize. The 2014 election was a concession. However, in 2018, as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, he was in charge of the ‘Shipping Reconstruction Plan’. At the time, the Korean shipping industry was in half due to the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping. In this situation, there was no way to tell the chief secretary would run. I thought it was a natural duty as a public servant to assume responsibility to the end, even if it had not been in charge of the minister.
–He was even re-elected in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Why did you decide to politicize in Busan?
“In fact, the conditions in Seoul were better. I came home in 2011, which is when few people want to run in Busan as the Democratic Party candidate. At the time, President Moon Jae-in was also in Busan, but it is time to lose hands on political participation. I wanted to have something important. The Busan foundation, created by former President Roh Moo-hyun and many others, could have been wiped out overnight. So, I came down with two goals: ‘political reform’ and ‘Busan resurrection’. I describe this as ‘running Roh Moo-hyun.’
-What does it mean when you say you are ‘Gaduk Kim Young-chun’?
“The ho was called ‘gadeok’. It means adding virtues. Gadeokdo has the same sound and meaning. As such, Gadeok is also desperate to promote a new airport. When asked to run for the first time, he said he would think about it if the Democratic Party passed the ‘New Gadeokdo Airport Special Law’. The new airport is not just a convenient way to travel for Busan citizens. Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam are the heavy and chemical industries in common. The international influence of the industry is diminishing day by day. We need to switch to a high-tech industry. The pickup for this is the new Gadeokdo airport. “
-How will the new airport be received.
“At Gimhae Airport, take-off and landing for large planes is impossible due to runway length problems. Flying during the last hours of the night is also prohibited. In these conditions, it is difficult to transport cargo. So I only use Incheon airport. If Korea’s trade volume is about $ 1 trillion, more than 99.5% is shipped by ship. However, the proportion of air transport, which is about 0.5%, is about 30-34%. Air cargo has a very high added value. As these cargoes are transported only to the Incheon airport, all the high-tech industries are gathering in the metropolitan area. Busan, located in the extreme southeast, is an alienated structure. Let’s change this once at the new Gadeokdo airport. “
-The power of the people and Gadeok are making a new airport promise.
“It’s like taking a spoon and sitting at the table. However, I have no intention of blaming him. However, we must reflect and apologize for past actions. Some officials from the village force complained: ‘Would you like to build another airport to dry pepper?’ It’s not even half a cent. I was really mad. Those people are said to now support Gadeokdo Island as support for the new airport is high. It would have already been completed if the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye governments began construction of a new airport in accordance with their promises without considering political affiliation. These are the ‘lost ten years’. Isn’t it the strength of the people to agree to this? “
-In public opinion polls, few opinions believe that the new airport will affect the elections.
“I also hope that the new Gadeokdo airport special law will be passed to help in the elections. But what if it doesn’t help? Isn’t it good for Busan itself? Someday, if not now, the citizens of Busan said: ‘If the Democratic Party does not advance, Gadeok could not even be a new airport. Many thanks.’ It is useful for elections, it is not, and that does not matter to me. Of course it remains to be done, and I do it because I need it in Busan. “
-The power of the people What do you think is your strength compared to the candidate Hyung-Jun Park?
“Candidate Park has no experience of doing great things on her own responsibility. I have experience leading and revitalizing organizations and industries in crisis. He also has a plan that will change the future of Busan. I hope to obtain the cooperation of the central government and the National Assembly. You can also call and meet with the minister or Democratic Party officials at any time. I will make irreversible historic decisions for Busan during my tenure. Park’s opposition party clearly has limitations. This term as mayor of Busan overlaps with the term of the Moon Jae-in administration. The National Assembly is also led by the 180-seat Democratic Party. When the opposition mayor is elected, it is difficult to secure a budget to promote national projects. I can do it. That is the decisive difference. “
-You criticized Hyung-jun Park’s promise from ‘Urban Loop’.
“It’s really a ‘with faces’ loop. Urban Loop is a high-speed mode of transportation. The problem is that it is an experimental technology that has not yet been put into practice anywhere in the world. It is absurd that the technology is finished by 2030, which has not been verified for security and commerciality. It is said that with Urban Loop, it takes 15 minutes from the new Gadeokdo airport to Haeundae. Even if you don’t do that, there is the Donghae Nambu Line Railway. It can accelerate up to 250 km. The new Gadeokdo airport can be connected to this rail network. It is only necessary to build a new railway of about 6 km. Calculating the Busan Research Institute, the new Gadeokdo airport and Haeundae are connected in 19 minutes. If candidate Park asks to discuss this, I will respond as much as I can. “
-What do you think of the Korea-Japan underwater tunnel?
“It is an absurd promise. Busan is the final destination of the continent and the starting point of the ocean. But if the tunnel is open, it can pass Busan. Japan is the end of the continent. I don’t know why you are going to do that. What a great party to say. “
-Even so, Busan is still in a shape that favors the strength of the people.
“If the Democratic Party has not nominated a candidate in Busan, the People’s Force candidate will be elected even if he bets. Will that really help the development of Busan? Because of this, he was running even though he knew it was inauspicious. I believe that citizens will recognize the difficulties of Busan and recognize that Kim Young-chun is the best. It is closing the gap at a rapid pace. I think we can reverse enough after March. “
