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| ▲ Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon declares his presidential bid during a news conference at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 9, 2025. (Yonhap) |
Gyeonggi governor-presidential bid
Gyeonggi governor declares presidential bid
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, who formerly served as the finance minister, declared his presidential bid on Wednesday, saying he has the experience and know-how to cope with the crisis faced by the Korean economy.
Kim made the declaration at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on his way to the United States, becoming the second Democratic Party (DP) member to jump into the main opposition party's presidential primary after former lawmaker Kim Du-kwan.
The snap presidential election is set for June 3 following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
"The upcoming presidential election will be one that will determine whether the Republic of Korea will return to the past or move forward into the future. A regime change alone is not enough. We need further change beyond that," Kim said.
He emphasized his comparative advantage as the former finance minister, saying he has experience and networks on the international stage that he has built up for over 30 years. He then pledged to abstain from populist policies and shorten the five-year presidential term to three years, if elected as president in June, to match the general election cycle.
Kim said he plans to make a four-day trip to the U.S. state of Michigan, where the headquarters of the Big Three American automakers are located, as part of his efforts to help the South Korean auto industry hit hard by heavy U.S. tariffs.
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