Translation result
[Herald Economy reporter Kim Byung-jin] Candidates vying for the People Power Party nomination for governor of North Gyeongsang Province are intensifying a race to build momentum, actively seeking endorsements from prominent local figures.
On April 3, Lee Cheol-woo’s campaign said that Baek Seung-ju — a former vice defense minister in the Park Geun-hye administration and a former gubernatorial hopeful — visited Lee’s campaign office and officially endorsed him.
Baek said he decided to back Lee after reviewing Lee’s campaign following the first primary and watching the two most recent debates.
In his endorsement statement, Baek said he strongly agrees with Lee’s policy direction and formally asked Lee to incorporate the development pledges Baek had promoted for North Gyeongsang into Lee’s policy platform.
Baek’s signature pledge, under the slogan “Building a Happy North Gyeongsang,” aims to revive the “Can Do” spirit associated with former President Park Chung-hee and to significantly raise residents’ overall well-being.
His proposals include infrastructure plans to make Gumi a hub for South Korea’s defense industry and to develop Pohang into a major comprehensive logistics port. Policy measures he advocates include bold reforms to the absolute farmland preservation system, funeral cost support for seniors, and early construction of the integrated new airport — all aimed at accelerating provincial growth and addressing residents’ day-to-day needs.
Lee replied, “I will actively adopt Baek Seung-ju’s strong proposals and use them as core policies to drive concrete progress in North Gyeongsang.”
The campaign of People Power Party contender Kim Jae-won also moved to broaden its base of support.
On the same day, Park Seung-ho, the former mayor of Pohang who was eliminated in the party’s Pohang mayor primary, announced his official endorsement of Kim Jae-won.
Park emphasized his long-standing ties with Kim in explaining his decision.
“Back in 1992, when I served as director of the North Gyeongsang civil defense bureau, Kim worked in the planning office and we worked closely together,” Park recalled.
He lauded Kim as a top strategist and a major figure for the province, urging voters to support a candidate with the drive to lead regional development at a critical moment.
A Kim campaign official said, “Park, a symbol of Pohang’s administration, endorsing Candidate Kim demonstrates that Kim is the right person to lead North Gyeongsang and Pohang. We will live up to that trust, win, and complete the province’s reform.”
Also on the same day, the Pohang Earthquake Citizens’ Response Headquarters announced its support for Kim.
The group held a press conference in the Pohang City Hall briefing room to declare its active backing for Kim, who advanced to the final round of the People Power Party primary for governor.
Formed on December 16, 2017, the Pohang Earthquake Citizens’ Response Headquarters is a civic organization that has led efforts to determine the cause of the Pohang earthquake and has spearheaded citizen lawsuits filed by hundreds of thousands of earthquake victims seeking compensation for the damage.
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