On the 2nd, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Chan-dae held a book launch at his alma mater, Inha University, and effectively declared a run for Incheon mayor.
At the book launch, Park said, "I will throw everything for Incheon, which raised me," and added, "Until the day Incheon becomes a proud leading player in G3 Korea, where people stay, culture flows, and it reaches out to the world, please take courage and walk with me."
He said, "I have fears and concerns, but I think I can do it," and added, "I will go beyond the existing order and walk the path of innovation and renewal."
To help ensure the stable establishment of the Lee Jae-myung administration, Park put forward as key strategies the creation in Incheon of a logistics and physical artificial intelligence (AI) special zone, the establishment of the Incheon Bio Science and Technology Institute, making Incheon an advance base for K-culture, and achieving energy self-sufficiency through offshore wind power.
He said, "Incheon, which began as a small port city, has grown over more than 100 years into a city of 3 million people, but now it must achieve a major transformation for the next leap," and added, "If we trust the people and Incheon citizens who overcame the rebellion and walk steadily, we can surely do it."
Born in Incheon, Park is a certified public accountant by profession. In the 2016 20th general election, he ran in Incheon's Yeonsu District, where the Democratic Party had never won, and eked out a narrow victory by 214 votes, then went on to win three consecutive terms.
Known as a closest aide to President Lee Jae-myung when he was party leader, Park served as the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson and supreme council member, and, as floor leader directing legislative strategy during major phases such as the Dec. 3 martial law crisis and the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, worked in step with President Lee.