Busan candidate Lee Ju-yeon focuses on policies to make Buk-gu a city where youth can dream and stay

Lee Ju-yeon, a young Democratic Party candidate running for the Busan Buk-gu Council, is focusing her campaign on policies designed to keep the region's youth from migrating to Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area. "If we provide housing for young people and create quality jobs, I don't think there's any reason for young people to go to Seoul or the metropolitan area," Lee stated, outlining her vision.

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If we provide housing for young people and create quality jobs, I don't think there's any reason for young people to go to Seoul or the metropolitan area.

Lee, 28, believes that the "killer housing prices and living costs" in the capital drive young people to abandon relationships, marriage, and other life goals. Her proposed solutions include reviving plans to develop a vacant lot in Geumgok-dong into an urban high-tech industrial complex to generate jobs. She also advocates for low-interest housing loans and dedicated housing for young residents, arguing this would not only prevent them from leaving but also encourage those who have already departed to return.

Having witnessed firsthand how policies can be distorted or become effective in her previous role at a renewable energy company in the Seoul metropolitan area, Lee realized the significance of politics and policy. "Politics is a responsible job that creates tangible change in people's lives. I want to speak up for my hometown, Buk-gu," she said. She also identified the need for urban renewal in dilapidated areas and the redevelopment of land around the Gyeongbu Line railway, advocating for balanced development along the Nakdong River.

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Politics is a responsible job that creates tangible change in people's lives. I want to speak up for my hometown, Buk-gu.

Despite Buk-gu being part of the "Nakdong River Belt," known for its significant Democratic Party support, the People Power Party remains the stronger force. The People Power Party has held the district mayor's office in six out of the last seven local elections, with the exception of 2018. In the last presidential election, the People Power Party candidate secured 50.19% of the vote, while the Democratic Party candidate received 41.44%. Lee, however, remains determined, pledging to approach residents with "reasonableness, trust, and sincerity" to foster growth. She aims to leverage her perspective as a young woman to address even small issues and create tangible changes that residents can feel, ultimately building a Buk-gu where young people can thrive.

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We need to create a Buk-gu where young people can dream and stay, not leave.