Heo Wins GNP Busan Mayor Nomination

“I’ll get the lost position of ‘Candidate number one’ back for the GNP.”

Taking the platform right after the announcement confirming his election, Heo Nam-sik, the Grand National Party (GNP)’s candidate for Busan mayor, said he would make the upcoming local election a forum for judging the current administration.

“On the basis of the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Busan last year, I will develop Busan from Korea’s second largest city into a central city of Northeast Asia and a global one rivaling Hong Kong and Singapore,” said Heo.

Heo had to go through a long and bumpy road until he finally got elected as the GNP’s Busan mayor candidate. Having been elected the mayor of Busan in a by-election, he successfully hosted the APEC Summit during his short tenure of one year and 10 months. However, his in-party competitor, lawmaker Gwon Chul-hyun, was a tough opponent.

During the GNP’s primary, Heo’s morality was questioned when a series of unfavorable allegations, such as his wife privately using an official vehicle and using a short-term contract worker at the Busan Municipal Government (BMG) as a housework helper for his private residence.

With regard to the private usage of the official vehicle and other issues, Heo said, “It was a common practice, but I would like to apologize.”

Heo spent his whole government career in Busan since he passed the 19th Senior Civil Service Examination in 1976. At the BMG, he is called the “grand old man”; he is also nicknamed “rubber waist” in that his dealing with work is as flexible as rubber.

His poor political capability and lack of experience in central political circles are pointed out as his weaknesses. However, some analyze that his distance from central politics rather served as his strength during the party’s primary; most of the incumbent lawmakers in Busan reportedly preferred Heo, who is relatively familiar to them, to his competitor Gwon.

Regarding this claim, Heo said, “A mayor’s political ability is one of integration. A political capability means concentrating the citizen’s power into one. It should be built on the foundation of administrative capability. That is how I successfully hosted the APEC Summit meeting.”

Heo emphasized his comparative advantage by saying, “The Uri Party’s candidate, Oh Geo-don, also has administrative ability, but the citizens of Busan want continuation and stability in municipal affairs.”

Heo said that for the development of Busan, he would prepare 4.4 million pyeong-sized industrial sites and create 40,000 new jobs by 2010.

Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com