Kim Sang-wook, the Democratic Party's candidate for Ulsan mayor, stated on May 18 that candidates from the pro-democracy camp share a common purpose and emphasized that the issue of unification is not about personal ambition.
During an appearance on KBS Radio's current affairs program, Kim responded to questions about the unification process, saying, "We must not allow the remnants of the December 3 coup to extend the rule of the People Power Party's local government."
He added, "Setting aside personal interests for a moment, the discussions aimed at unifying our efforts have been the driving force behind this process. We will continue to work towards unification with this strength."
A public opinion poll regarding unification between Kim and Kim Jong-hoon, the Progressive Party's candidate, will be conducted over two days from May 23 to 24. Kim noted, "The polls for local leaders have already begun, and we have agreed on a specific schedule that prioritizes the mayoral race, followed by the provincial council elections. We expect to present the results of the mayoral candidate unification to the public around May 25 or 26."
Earlier, on May 14, Kim announced a unification agreement with candidate Hwang Myung-pil. He stated, "I suggested that Hwang Myung-pil of the Justice Reform Party and Kim Jong-hoon of the Progressive Party join forces for campaign activities, and they agreed. We will present our policies, direction, and commitments to the citizens, demonstrating our unity."
Regarding the possibility of unification between Kim Du-gyeom of the People Power Party and independent candidate Park Maeng-woo, Kim assessed that it is fundamentally difficult. He explained, "Park is running for the sake of addressing issues with the current administration and normalizing the People Power Party, rather than for personal gain. A poorly executed unification would undermine his justification for running."
He further stated, "A mid-campaign unification would lack legitimacy," predicting that the Ulsan mayoral election will likely be a three-way contest.
Kim acknowledged that there are many variables in competing against these candidates, noting, "Ulsan is a place where the vested interests of the People Power Party operate strongly, so the last-minute mobilization of their supporters is significant. Local newspapers and other regional influences also create many variables."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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