The Democratic Party of Korea has finalized former Mayor Heo Tae-jeong as its candidate for Daejeon mayor in the June 3 local elections.
Soh Byung-hoon, chairman of the Democratic Party's Central Election Management Committee, announced at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on Tuesday that "Candidate Heo has been confirmed as the Democratic Party's final candidate for Daejeon mayor." The party conducted its primary for Daejeon mayor from May 11 through Tuesday, weighing party member votes and public opinion polls at 50% each.
Rep. Jang Cheol-min, who competed against Heo for the candidacy, failed to advance past the primary. Heo will face incumbent Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo of the People Power Party in the June local elections.
Heo, who served as Daejeon mayor during the 7th popular election term, has pledged to restore participatory budgeting, establish a citizen participation platform, and introduce a citizen auditor system for "a Daejeon where citizens are the owners." He plans to implement "Better Ontong Daejeon 2.0," an improved version of the local currency Ontong Daejeon that he introduced during his previous term, along with a "4050 Income Gap Bridge Pension" for middle-aged residents struggling with early retirement and income stagnation, and expand Daejeon's living wage to revive the local economy.
He also promised to expedite long-standing Daejeon projects including normalizing the construction of Daejeon Municipal Medical Center, pushing for the relocation of Daejeon Correctional Institution, and resuming the Innovation City Urban Convergence Special Zone.
