Governor Shim Dae-pyong’s First Step Toward Forming a New Party

Chungnam Province Governor Shim Dae-pyong opened the “People First Academy” (PFA) on July 1. The PFA is an organization to prepare for the creation of a political party. It is the first time ever that a head of a local government is taking steps to form a political party.

Governor Shim held a press conference on the morning of the same day at the PFA office located in the Unsung Building, Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, and said, “I opened the academy to develop national and regional policies that will lead a developed Korea.”

The chief director of the PFA is regional administration expert Jeong Se-wook (69) who is also the head of Korea Institute for Public Autonomy, while a principal is being sought.

Governor Shim’s plan is to expand this organization to the national level and lay the groundwork for a national political party. Currently, he plans to open regional branches throughout the country including in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, and then hold its first symposium in mid-August in Seoul, where all the branches will attend.

The newly formed party has its doors wide open to a possible coalition with presidential runner-ups. When asked whether the possibility of forming a coalition with former Prime Minister Goh Kun, Governor Shim answered, “I haven’t met him, but I will join hands with anyone who loves this country, and the door is always open.”

On the possibility of forming a coalition with the United Liberal Democrats, he said, “Our purposes are the same that we speak for our region and aspire to be a nationwide political party. However, the United Liberal Democrats should throw away their old manners and recover their founding spirit.”

Myung-Hun Jee mhjee@donga.com