▲ Kim Min-seok, a former Prime Minister and potential candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, speaks during a meeting at the SK Hynix Campus 4 in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on July 2.
Kim Min-seok, a former Prime Minister and a contender for the Democratic Party leadership, is expected to officially announce his candidacy for the party representative election, scheduled for August 17, in the newly formed Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City soon.
It is reported that Gwangju Military Airport is being strongly considered as the specific location for his announcement.
A representative for Kim stated, "The timing and location of the candidacy announcement are currently under review," adding, "We will make an announcement once they are finalized."
Kim's decision to announce his bid at Gwangju Military Airport shortly after returning to the party appears to be a move to appeal to the party's core support base in the Honam region, while also highlighting his commitment to providing immediate support for the Lee Jae-myung administration's state affairs should he be elected as party leader.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City was launched on July 1 as the first case of administrative integration promoted by the Lee Jae-myung administration for balanced national development.
In particular, Gwangju Military Airport is being considered as a candidate site for a semiconductor factory (fab) planned as part of the Lee Jae-myung administration's mega-project.
President Lee Jae-myung inspected Gwangju Military Airport on June 30 following the National Report on the Vision for Advanced Industrial Development in the Southwest Region.
It is reported that Kim is also considering holding a second announcement event in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the afternoon of the same day following his declaration in the Honam region.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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