Former Minister Chun Jae-soo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the 2nd declared a run for Busan mayor, saying, "I will complete in the maritime capital Busan the miracle of Busan's revival that began with the transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries."
On the morning of the day, the former Minister held a press conference in front of the Busan Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries building and officially declared his candidacy for Busan mayor in the June 3 local elections. He said, "After becoming Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), I completed the transfer of the ministry in just five months," adding, "Now I want to create another miracle together with the citizens."
Emphasizing his achievements, the former Minister said, "The miracle that began with the transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries led to the creation of the Arctic Route Promotion Headquarters, the enactment of the Special Act on the Maritime Capital Busan, and the passage of the bill to establish a maritime specialized court." He added, "Now the door has opened to create massive added value."
He also assessed Busan's current crisis. He said, "Busan's population, which was 3.37 million in 2021, has fallen to 3.24 million in 2026, and an average of 36 people are leaving Busan each day," noting, "It is being classified as at risk of extinction, the first among metropolitan cities." He went on, "Regional gross product and the economically active population have been overtaken by Incheon, and the employment rate for college graduates and above has been at the bottom nationwide for seven consecutive years," adding, "With a decline in the self-employed and a high business closure rate, Busan's situation is suffocating."
He pointed to the "lack of balance, vision, and execution" as the cause of Busan's crisis. The former Minister said, "As money and opportunities concentrate in the Seoul metropolitan area, people are concentrating there as well," adding, "A tilted Republic of Korea is sinking, and the regions are sinking." He continued, "A region without a vision has no future," adding, "It is time for Busan citizens to have a 'mayor who gets things done.'"
The former Minister said, "From Busan at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, I will create a new growth base to compete on equal footing with the Seoul metropolitan area," adding, "I will realize the dream of the maritime capital Busan together with President Lee Jae-myung and together with the citizens of Busan."