Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesman of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced his resignation to run in the June 3 local elections. His departure comes seven months after being appointed following Party Leader Chung Chung-rae's inauguration in August last year.
"I am concluding my role as chief spokesman today," Park told reporters outside the party leader's office at the National Assembly on Wednesday. "I will declare my candidacy tomorrow, so I want to wrap up today and begin my campaign."
Noting the unusual circumstances of announcing his resignation to reporters gathered for a press briefing, Park joked, "This might be the first candidacy announcement like this in history."
Park plans to run for South Chungcheong Province governor in the June 3 local elections. During a JTBC broadcast appearance on Tuesday, he signaled his intention, saying he would "declare his candidacy for South Chungcheong governor very soon."
He is scheduled to travel to South Chungcheong Province on Thursday for his official campaign announcement.
"As the architect of the Lee Jae-myung administration's '5 Poles, 3 Special Zones' balanced national growth strategy, I feel an immense sense of responsibility," Park said, explaining his motivation for running.
He previously served as chairman of the Balanced Growth Special Committee under the Presidential Policy Planning Committee after the Lee administration took office.
However, South Chungcheong Province is currently in discussions for administrative integration with Daejeon Metropolitan City.
"Rather than declaring my candidacy because integration has been decided, I feel responsible for making it succeed if it happens, and an even greater responsibility to ensure it happens before the next general election if it doesn't," Park said.
When asked whether he would run for South Chungcheong governor if the Daejeon-South Chungcheong Integration Special Act fails to pass, Park replied, "Yes."