Lee Jae-jun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Suwon mayor, formally launched his reelection bid Tuesday, completing his pre-candidate registration and visiting major traditional markets in the city.
Lee completed his pre-candidate registration at the Paldal-gu Election Commission in Suwon around 10 a.m. With the registration, his duties as mayor were suspended.
"I have taken care of people's livelihoods and citizens' safety to the end," Lee said after the registration. "I believed it was the mayor's duty to protect the daily lives of Suwon citizens and prepare for the city's future."
At around 10:30 a.m., he visited Suwon's Memorial Tower to pay tribute to fallen patriots.
Lee then visited Motgol Market, Yeongdong Market, and Paldalmun Market in succession to communicate with local vendors, continuing his tour of livelihood-related sites by visiting Haengri-dan Street, a popular area crowded with young people.
"Visiting traditional markets and alleys on the first day of pre-candidate registration is a clear message that this election will be centered on people's livelihoods," Lee's camp said. "It means we will prioritize citizens' cost-of-living burdens and the recovery of the alley economy."
Lee also wrote on his social media account that day: "Suwon's great transformation should not be a grand slogan but should begin in the daily lives of citizens. I will first listen to the sighs of market merchants, the burden on citizens doing their grocery shopping, and the difficulties of the alley economy, and find answers."
"I will lower citizens' burdens with half-price living costs, create Suwon's future livelihood through an advanced scientific research city, and grow the city's dignity and alley economy through the industrialization of culture and tourism," he added. "Lee Jae-jun, who started Suwon's great transformation, will take responsibility to the end."
Meanwhile, with Lee's entry into the election, the city of Suwon has shifted to an acting mayor system under First Deputy Mayor Kim Hyun-soo. The acting system will remain in place until midnight on the 3rd of next month.
