'Presidential election card’ played by heads of local governments

“One thing I can say for sure is that an unprecedented generation shift will be realized,” said then President Kim Young-sam in October 1995, rattling the whole political arena. Lee In-je, then governor of Gyeonggi Province who had been often called a “Little YS” or “Little Park Chung-hee,” suddenly rose to become a star politician. I had a chance to interview Lee as a presidential candidate the following year, and was able to see two things in him: a skilled politician who was able to streamline the complex political issues, and his desire for power that nothing would get in the way of his candidacy.

It was unprecedented for Lee to announce his presidential candidacy in March 1997, in less than even two years since he had been elected the first governor by vote in June 1995. On the other hand, today’s politicians seem to flock to presidency immediately after their term begins as head of a local government body. Incumbent Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon called for a change of power Tuesday during his North America visit, followed by South Chungcheong Governor Ahn Hee-jung virtually announcing his candidacy by saying he will “overcome any factional or regional connections,” and Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil who suddenly triggered a discussion on a volunteer military system, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Jun-pyo and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, all seeking for the crown. Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung joined the trend Tuesday by mentioning a “revolutionary change of Korea” during his visit to Gwangju.

Such a reckless stream of candidacy is largely based on the belief that trying wouldn’t hurt them at all. The deadline for resignation from incumbency is 90 days before the election. Therefore, one could possibly maintain a position after fully playing with the potential of the "presidency card" while seeing their public popularity raised, until he fails the party candidacy race next summer.

At some point, municipal governments' leadership has turned into a shelter for senior lawmakers or a route to presidential candidacy. A rumor about the successor of the Seoul mayor to replace him for his election campaigns is rampant in and out of the city, posing a harm to the city administration. Experience as a governor of state is also considered critical in America’s politics, but there are only one or two of such candidates per election. “Who will be left to feed the cattle,” if everyone shoots for presidency, as Rep. Woo Sang-ho said.