Park Hong-ryul, a preliminary candidate for Mokpo mayor from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, held a news conference on 21 and formally confirmed his entry into the June 3 local elections, pledging to serve as a “steppingstone for reform in local politics.”
In a statement, Park said citizens and party members had backed him to face the Democratic Party candidate in the general election. He thanked voters for choosing him, saying he would stand up to what he called the Democratic Party’s heavy-handed politics in Mokpo and help open an era of local government led by citizens.
Park also urged primary rival Park Yong-an to join forces, calling for unity to break what he described as the Democratic Party’s stronghold.
He said local politics in Yeongnam and Honam had been dominated by the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, arguing the system should move toward a genuine multiparty structure that reflects public opinion. Park said he would win the election, make Mokpo a base for political innovation and restore the city’s standing as a leading center of Honam politics.
Park said his party and the Democratic Party share some goals, including prosecutorial reform, but criticized the Democratic Party for, in his words, repaying Honam residents’ support with “lineups” tied to nominations. “It is time for alert citizens to discipline monopolistic political power,” he said.
Park pointed to his experience in city administration as an advantage. He said that during his time in office in the 6th and 8th elected administrations, Mokpo boosted tourism competitiveness by installing a marine cable car. He also said the city restarted the long-delayed Imseong District development project through an agreement with the Korea Land and Housing Corp., and improved the monopoly structure of city bus routes, resolving wage arrears and service suspensions.
As a key pledge for the 9th elected administration, Park proposed building a Mokpo-style renewable energy convergence national industrial complex on 550,000 pyeong around Gohado, attracting 100 companies and creating 10,000 jobs.
Park said he would make Mokpo “a happy city from cradle to old age” and a city with abundant jobs for young people. He asked for support, saying he would overcome what he called the Democratic Party’s high barrier and open a new era for Mokpo.
The news conference was seen as signaling potential shifts in the local political landscape ahead of the June 3 elections and was expected to affect the Mokpo mayoral race.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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