Choo Mi-ae, newly selected as the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, held a press conference at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly briefing room on the morning of the 8th, declaring her determination to win the general election. "I will earn the trust of Gyeonggi residents through proven results and by keeping every promise," she said.
Choo first addressed concerns raised during the intra-party primary debates about her perceived lack of understanding of Gyeonggi provincial affairs. "The short debate format had its limits in fully explaining all policies," she acknowledged, adding that "I have been continuously discussing and refining my pledges with researchers and working-level experts across various fields." She continued, "Once the campaign committee is fully formed, we will bring in a broader range of experts to systematize our policies and present concrete implementation plans."
Regarding the direction of policy refinement, Choo presented residents' acceptance and feasibility as the core criteria. "Gyeonggi Province belongs to its residents," she said. "Considering residents' support and acceptance, I will boldly adopt necessary policies and supplement areas lacking in feasibility to develop them into achievable policies."
On the question of unity with rivals she competed against during the primary, Choo said, "Fierce competition is a natural part of the process. Rather, it served as an opportunity to rally and consolidate support among party members." She added, "Now we must unite as one team. I will form a unity-style 'melting pot' campaign committee that embraces not only the party but also residents who did not support us."
Choo presented "results-oriented politics" as the key to expanding her centrist appeal. "When politics and public administration fail to demonstrate efficacy, public interest drifts away," she said. "When trust builds through delivering results and keeping promises, the support base naturally expands." She added, "Just as I delivered results in prosecutorial reform and judicial reform, I will be judged by results in provincial governance as well."
On campaign strategy, she said she would prioritize direct contact with residents over targeting her opponents. "Elections are not about targeting the other side but about listening to the lives and hopes of each and every resident," Choo said. "Identifying problems and finding solutions on the ground — that accumulated process is the campaign itself." She added, "I will tirelessly expand my points of contact with residents."
Addressing concerns about her lack of administrative experience, Choo pushed back. "As Minister of Justice, I managed a large-scale organization and personally oversaw demanding areas such as correctional administration," she said. "I also have experience from my work on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and in administrative reform. Public administration is by no means unfamiliar territory to me." She added, "I am more confident than anyone in my focus and diligence on the job."
When asked about her Hanam-si Gap constituency — which she must vacate by resigning her National Assembly seat to run in the gubernatorial general election — Choo said, "I am not leaving Hanam. I am expanding my role to all of Gyeonggi Province. If I am elected governor, it will be an even greater help to Hanam's development."
Choo closed by sharing an anecdote from the campaign trail and expressing her gratitude. "A family with a child with a disability traveled a long distance just to cheer me on and say 'Stay strong.' It was deeply moving," she said. "I feel a sense of responsibility from the encouragement sent by those in even more difficult circumstances." She concluded, "I will improve the quality of life for residents and create a Gyeonggi Province where everyone is happy. I will repay this support with victory."
Choo secured her spot in the general election after winning a majority of votes in the Democratic Party's primary held the previous day, defeating incumbent Governor Kim Dong-yeon and two-term National Assembly member Han Jun-ho.