Busan: Park Heong-joon, the incumbent mayor of Busan who is pursuing a third term in the upcoming June 3 local elections, has been chosen as the candidate for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to run for mayor of the southeastern port city.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park secured a majority of the votes in the party's primary election, defeating first-term lawmaker Rep. Joo Jin-woo. This victory has confirmed him as the PPP's final candidate for the position, as announced by Park Duk-hyum, chairman of the party's nomination management committee.
In the forthcoming election, Park will compete against Rep. Jeon Jae-soo, who is the candidate representing the ruling Democratic Party (DP) for the mayoral position in Busan. Park expressed his determination by stating, "Now is the time for victory. I will serve as the field commander and vanguard for all PPP candidates," emphasizing his goal to counter what he describes as the DP's "one-party dominance without checks."
Park's political career in Busan began with his first election as mayor in the 2021 by-election, followed by a reelection in July 2022. Demonstrating his commitment to developing Busan, he recently took a bold step by shaving his head in protest, urging for the quick passage of the "Special Act on the Development of Busan as a Global Hub City." This legislative proposal, aimed at transforming Busan into a global hub, has been stalled in a parliamentary committee for nearly two years. It was reintroduced in May 2024 after being previously scrapped at the end of the last National Assembly term.