Prime Minister Kim: "Time to Be Vigilant Again and Pursue Innovation" After June 3 Local Election Results

Prime Minister Kim Minseok Delivers Keynote Speech at 'New Honam Forum' on June 6

Prime Minister Kim Minseok commented on the results of the June 3 local elections, stating, "Now is the time to be vigilant again and pursue innovation."

On June 6, at the KBC ‘New Honam Forum’ held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, Prime Minister Kim delivered a keynote speech on the theme of 'A New Path for Honam.' He said, "After the recent election, some view it as a victory, while others feel it was insufficient," and shared these remarks.

Yonhap News Agency

Prime Minister Kim assessed, "From the perspective of those who expected the high expectations for state governance under presidential leadership to naturally translate into the election results, the outcome seems insufficient. On the other hand, looking at the overall picture, there are those who believe that it was still a victory and therefore satisfactory." He continued, "It is time for the government, the ruling party, and Honam—which has been a strong foundation for both—to reflect once again on the formula for victory so far." He explained, "The formula for victory from former President Kim Dae-jung to President Lee Jaemyung has been the combination of growth and democracy, as well as the expansion of a practical, people-centric approach."

He went on to say, "In order to usher in another golden era, we must turn the tension arising after this election into an opportunity for innovation, and firmly hold on to both of these approaches." He emphasized, "It is also the role of Honam to ensure that these become the consistent direction of the government and the ruling party."

Prime Minister Kim added, "Even though the president is providing outstanding leadership to the point that it is difficult to ask for more, there will still be challenges ahead on this path." He continued, "There may be ups and downs due to elections or various issues, but we must overcome them." He further stated, "I believe we are entering a period in which we must be more vigilant than ever. The core of innovation is to combine a practical, people-centric approach with growth and democracy. If we unite our political strength, we can achieve this."

Prime Minister Kim's visit to Gwangju comes amid speculation that he will soon return to Yeouido, as the Democratic Party's national convention is set for August.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.