Chun Jae-soo, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Busan mayor, said on the 13th, "Now I will complete the dream of Busan as a maritime capital. That is the only reason and goal for my candidacy," announcing the reason for running.
On this morning at the National Assembly, Chun held a press conference and said, "The maritime capital Busan will expand Busan-Ulsan-South Gyeongsang into a single maritime metropolitan area and be completed as an Arctic route economic zone connecting Pohang, Yeosu, and Gwangyang," and stated accordingly.
Chun said, "Busan is truly a difficult place to live," adding, "The Seoul metropolitan area has reached its limit due to overconcentration, and other regions are being driven to the brink of extinction, which is a political disaster caused by poor national governance and limits in execution." Chun added, "Regional extinction means the downfall of the entire Republic of Korea."
Chun continued, "Alongside the Seoul metropolitan area, we need another wing to support the Republic of Korea," adding, "The maritime capital Busan will ultimately become a survival strategy for all of the Republic of Korea." Chun emphasized, "The transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan was the first step," and, "As the first Minister of Oceans and Fisheries in the Lee Jae-myung administration, I take pride in having resolved Busan's long-held aspiration in five months."
Chun said, "This Busan mayoral election is not a contest to choose between progressive and conservative, or between the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "The only criterion will be who is the mayor needed for Busan citizens." Chun emphasized, "Together with President Lee Jae-myung, who gets things done, I will, as a strong and effective Busan mayor, lead Busan to a new leap forward."
After the press conference, Chun met with reporters and, regarding People Power Party Floor Leader Song Eon-seog hinting at legal action over the joint prosecution–police task force's decision not to indict in the Unification Church bribery case, said, "We have strongly demanded a special counsel investigation into the Unification Church, including the Japan–Korea undersea tunnel issue," adding, "But the People Power Party is avoiding a special counsel under the pretext of Shincheonji while waging malicious and far-fetched smear campaigns."
Regarding President Lee Jae-myung's recent reference to the Busan Global Hub City Special Act (Busan Special Act) as "populist legislation," Chun said, "I take it that the president was not specifically singling out the Busan Special Act," adding, "A considerable number of mandatory spending bills submitted to the National Assembly now have been filed without expense estimates," and, "I think the president's remarks were aimed not at a specific bill but at pointing out general problems in the National Assembly's legislative process."