On the 29th, Kim Sang-uk, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Ulsan mayor, resigned from the National Assembly and formally entered the election race. Kim shed tears as the candidate announced the resignation from the Assembly.
That day, at the National Assembly's press room, Kim held a news conference and said, "As I resign as a member of the National Assembly, I look again at Ulsan, my political home and a politically challenging place," adding, "I will rebuild Ulsan through unity and pragmatism for citizens."
Kim also shed tears during the news conference. Kim changed party affiliation from the People Power Party to the Democratic Party after the emergency martial law and impeachment phase of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and the presidential election.
Kim said, "I am not a traitor. The traitors are the forces of insurrection that betrayed the people's trust and the vested-interest cartel that props them up," adding, "After joining the Democratic Party, I guarded against any cowardice that would deceive myself for personal gain or safety."
Kim went on, "I will return Ulsan to an open, accessible, and fair democratic city. I will lead labor-centered industrial AX (artificial intelligence transformation)," adding, "I will stir up a southeastern wind for the Democratic Party in Bu-Ul-Gyeong (Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang) and open a 'great unity world' where citizens are the true owners."
At 2 p.m. that day, Kim completed registration as a preliminary candidate for Ulsan mayor with the Ulsan Metropolitan City Election Commission. Kim Du-kwan, former South Gyeongsang governor, will serve as chief of the general election headquarters for Kim's campaign committee.