Translation resultConservative civic groups in Changwon and leaders from the city’s cultural and arts community officially declared their support for Song Sun-ho, the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) mayoral candidate for Changwon, on the 11th.
‘Changwon Rebound Forum’ and about 20 leaders of Changwon’s cultural and arts organizations held a press conference in front of the main entrance of Changwon City Hall and announced, “We support candidate Song Sun-ho to revive Changwon and restore its status as a cultural city.”
Participants in the declaration included representatives from cultural and arts organizations such as the Changwon branch of the Korea Federation of Arts and Culture, the Changwon chapter of the Korea Music Association, the Changwon branch of the Korea Theatre Association, the Changwon branch of the Korean Traditional Music Association, the Changwon chapter of the Korea Dance Association, the Gyeongnam branch of the Korea Association of Professional Artists, and the Changwon branch of the Korea Fine Arts Association.
Kwon Young-min, executive director of the Changwon Rebound Forum, said the central government’s emphasis on balanced national development and practical local decentralization aligns with the forum’s goal of strengthening regional autonomy and creating a local-centered growth model. “Judging that this is Changwon’s last chance to rebound, we selected Song Sun-ho because he demonstrates the persistence, courage, and unifying leadership the city needs,” he added.
Members of the cultural and arts community also sharply criticized the municipal government’s cultural policies under the current (eighth-term) administration.
Kim In-ho, chairman of the Changwon Federation of Arts and Culture, and others said, “Culture and the arts are fundamental to a city’s dignity and the quality of life for its residents, yet the previous administration repeatedly undermined cultural activity through budget cuts and other measures. That approach has put the city’s future at risk.”
They explained their support for Song by saying, “To implement the Lee Jae-myung administration’s five major policies to make Korea a cultural powerhouse at the local level, the city needs a mayor who understands the value of culture and the arts and who is committed to protecting artists’ rights and expanding support for creative work.”
Several former senior Changwon municipal officials who recently joined Song’s campaign attended the event. Former district heads and officials — including former Jinhae District head Kim Seong-ho; former Uichang District head Seo Jeong-guk; former Seongsan District head An Byeong-o; former Masanhappo District heads Cho Hyun-guk and Kang Byeong-gon; former director of the Green City Project Office Lee Chun-soo; and former Masan Hoiwon District head Park Ju-ya — said they would lend their support to help elect Song.
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