Park Ju-min of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 11th officially declared a run for Seoul mayor at Gwanghwamun Square. Among sitting Democratic Party lawmakers, he is the second after Park Hong-keun, who made his bid official on the 26th of last month.
At the declaration event that day, Park said, "Next year's Seoul mayoral election is not a simple choice but an election to show our will so that forces of insurrection can no longer set foot on this land, an election in which we together reset the direction of Seoul."
Park said, "Seoul has now become a 'city of endurance,'" pointing to difficulties across citizens' daily lives, including housing, safety, health care, and transportation. Park said, "The threshold of life has gotten higher and the door of opportunity narrower," adding, "The number of young people moving into Seoul has plunged. With recurring sinkholes, unrelenting 'hell commute,' pediatric 'open runs,' and even patients being shuttled among emergency rooms, citizens' safety and peace of mind are collapsing."
He added, "Seoul must become a city that guarantees the basics so that no citizen's life falls to the bottom. And it must become a city of opportunity where anyone can fully realize their potential," declaring that he would completely redesign Seoul as a "special city of basics" and a "special city of opportunity."
He presented a vision for "Seoul, the special city of basics," centered on six key tasks. ▲ Expanding affordable housing supply for young people and newlyweds and introducing "10-year安心 housing" and a "security deposit sheriff system" ▲ Building an integrated care safety net consolidating children, older adults, and people with disabilities ▲ Eliminating transportation blind spots by restarting delayed rail projects such as the Gangbuk transverse line ▲ Improving the distribution structure to ease food costs ▲ Establishing an education platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for all citizens ▲ Expanding AI-based safety systems.
He also unveiled a growth strategy under the vision of "Seoul, the special city of opportunity." ▲ Creating a support framework for startups by establishing the Seoul Investment Corporation ▲ Strengthening the AI ecosystem by building an AI open lab and data/model hubs ▲ Building a research and development (R&D) cluster for biotech in northern Seoul ▲ Leaping to become a world culture capital based on K-content ▲ Expanding renewable energy to achieve the "Seoul maximum" goal.
Park said, "By making this right transition and a proper leap, the new Seoul I envision will surpass Tokyo—the No. 3 city in the Global Power City Index (GPCI) and the top city in Asia—and compete with New York and London."
He especially emphasized differences from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in housing policy pledges. Park said, "A clear differentiator is the plan to swiftly expand housing through a dual track of private and public," adding, "Mayor Oh's private-sector policy stops at floor area ratio caps, but in addition to that, we will use financial techniques to accelerate private housing supply." He plans to announce detailed housing pledges within this month.
A former attorney, Park entered the National Assembly in the 20th general election and has served as the Democratic Party floor senior deputy whip, a secretary on The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and chair of the Health and Welfare Committee in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly.
He said, "Over the past 10 years, I have worked more intensely and more tenaciously than anyone. We kept prosecutorial power in check by establishing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and protected lives at workplaces through the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. I fought to safeguard people's old age through pension reform. Through the public consent petition system, I sought to create a National Assembly where the people are the owners," adding, "I am confident I can make the right transition for Seoul and enable a proper leap."
On what sets him apart from other candidates, he said, "I have often achieved results by breaking through issues that others find difficult or shun, with imagination and persuasion. That is the kind of work Seoul City needs now."
The declaration event proceeded under the theme "the future of Seoul I want," with seven Seoul citizens speaking first, followed by Park's announcement of his candidacy and then a media Q&A. Despite the biting weather, about 60 reporters and supporters gathered.
The field of potential Democratic Party candidates for Seoul mayor is taking clearer shape. In addition to lawmakers Park Ju-min and Park Hong-keun, who have made their bids official, lawmakers Seo Young-kyo, Chun Hyun-hee, and Kim Young-bae are being mentioned as in-party contenders. Former lawmakers Hong Ik-pyo and Park Yong-jin and Chong Won-o, head of Seongdong District, are also said to be weighing runs.
In particular, the race within the ruling camp has heated up after President Lee Jae-myung recently praised Chong publicly. In political circles, some interpreted it as "Myung-shim (the president's intent) is directed toward Chong."
On this, Park said, "The president is praising various people through various channels. I also had a brief conversation with the president about it, but I don't think there is a need to read too much into it."