Kwon Oh-dae, the 54-year-old chairman of the Cheonan City Committee of the Progressive Party, announced on May 10th that he will run as a candidate for city councilor in Cheongnyong-dong, Southeast Cheonan, in the upcoming June 3 local elections.
During a press conference held in the Cheonan City Hall briefing room, Kwon declared, “Even if just one progressive city councilor is elected, it can significantly change the political landscape of Cheonan.” He committed to being a councilor who steadfastly stands by the citizens and fights for their interests until the end.
He highlighted that the Cheonan City Council has been ranked last in integrity for two consecutive years. Kwon explained that this is due to the entrenched structure of the two-member electoral district, which allows candidates to win simply by receiving party nominations. This system has led politicians to prioritize internal party primaries over addressing the concerns of residents.
To tackle this issue, he pledged to establish a citizen deliberation forum where residents can directly participate in policy-making. Kwon also promised to implement citizen-proposed policies using surplus tax revenue.
Furthermore, he proposed several local initiatives aimed at improving quality of life. These include alleviating traffic congestion by adjusting bus routes and expanding public parking, enacting ordinances to support subcontracted workers, establishing rest areas for mobile workers, reducing overcrowded classrooms, and expanding integrated public care services.
Kwon stated, “As a local resident myself, I will always stand by the people. My goal is to create a neighborhood that is ideal for raising children and pursuing education, a community where welfare thrives.” He vowed to implement people-centered politics in Cheongnyong-dong that empowers hardworking residents.
Kwon Oh-dae’s background includes serving as co-chairman of the Sejong-Chungnam Regional Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and as the chief vice-chairman of the Sejong-Chungnam Headquarters. Currently, he heads the Cheonan Center for Household Debt 119 under the Progressive Party.
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