1 of 3 | Kim Young-bae, a preliminary Seoul mayoral candidate from the Democratic Party, speaks during an interview with Asia Today in Seoul. Photo by Asia Today
March 20 (Asia Today) — Kim Young-bae, a lawmaker and preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor from the ruling Democratic Party, said Thursday he would focus on practical policies to improve daily life for residents, promising to “give back one hour a day” by reducing commuting, caregiving and administrative waiting times.
Kim, a former Seongbuk district mayor and former presidential secretary, described himself as the most prepared candidate in the June 3 local election, citing experience in local administration, national politics and foreign affairs.
“What citizens really want is for someone to change even a small part of their lives,” Kim said in an interview with Asia Today. “The times call for practical politics and bread-and-butter politics focused on people’s lives, not ideology or division.”
Kim said his central campaign theme is “time inequality,” arguing that long commutes, caregiving burdens and inefficient public services leave residents with less time to plan their lives or pursue new opportunities.
As part of that agenda, he proposed high-density mixed-use development in four central Seoul areas – Yeongdeungpo, Sinchon, Cheongnyangni and the Dongdaemun Stadium area – to expand affordable housing near jobs. He also called for a better-linked public transit system connecting electric bikes, neighborhood buses, subways and city buses to create what he described as a more comfortable “10-minute station area.”
Kim said his strength over primary rivals lies in what he called a combination of administrative ability, political skill and global perspective. A two-term lawmaker, he currently serves as the ruling party’s senior member on the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and as secretary-general of the Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Alliance.
He also criticized incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, saying Oh should not seek another term after serving a combined 10 years in office. Kim pointed to a recent audit involving the Han River Bus project and argued that Seoul needs new leadership.
Among his other campaign proposals, Kim pledged to turn Seoul into a K-culture hub city and promote multi-core growth zones around gateway areas bordering Gyeonggi Province to reduce long commutes and ease congestion.
Kim said he wants to work with President Lee Jae-myung to usher in an era of practical politics that delivers tangible results for citizens.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260320010006220