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Busan mayoral candidate Jeon Jae-soo vows to make 'Maritime Capital' dream a reality, eyes HMM relocation

From Hankyoreh · (1h ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Jeon Jae-soo, a candidate for Busan mayor from the Democratic Party, emphasized his competence and drive, highlighting his experience as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.
  • He pledged to prioritize the relocation of HMM's headquarters to Busan, expressing optimism about achieving results before the election.
  • Jeon criticized the current mayor's performance, stating that the city has

As a candidate for Busan mayor, I am running to fulfill the dream of 'Busan, the Maritime Capital.' For the past decade in my political career, I have pondered how to make Busan's issues national priorities. Through the recent presidential election, I found the answer in the 'Arctic shipping route.' I concluded that to capitalize on the economic benefits of this route, Busan must be developed into a maritime hub.

I have a concrete list of tasks, a timetable, and a roadmap in my hands right now. Even when I was the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, I held onto the list so tightly that people said I would die if I kept working like this.

— Jeon Jae-sooResponding to criticism from his opponent, Park Hyung-joon, and emphasizing his own capabilities.

This led me to design a comprehensive 'Maritime Capital Busan' pledge during the last presidential election, which included four key initiatives: relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, establishing a maritime specialized court, moving the headquarters of major shipping companies like HMM to Busan, and creating a Southeast Investment Corporation with 50 trillion won in investment capital.

My top priority upon election will be the relocation of HMM's headquarters to Busan. When a leading company like HMM moves, other shipping firms will inevitably follow. I am in continuous communication with the labor union, which currently opposes the relocation. While I cannot make a definitive promise, we may see tangible results before the election concludes.

To complete the dream of 'Busan, the Maritime Capital.'

— Jeon Jae-sooStating his reason for running for Busan mayor.

I assess the current administration under Mayor Park Hyung-joon as having 'lost its way.' There are no tangible achievements that citizens can feel. While people might recall 'Busan Expo bid failure with 29 votes,' I have proven myself through concrete achievements. I expedited the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan in just five months.

There are no votes to be gained through negativity.

— Jeon Jae-sooCommenting on the opposition's campaign tactics.

While some may point to opinion polls showing a narrowing gap, I believe they are insignificant. The public sentiment on the ground tells a different story. They speak of 'conservative consolidation,' but we are now in an era of pragmatic support that contrasts with ideological and political backing. Citizens support those who deliver results through hard work.

We may see tangible results before the election concludes.

— Jeon Jae-sooExpressing optimism about the relocation of HMM's headquarters to Busan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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