A former floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party on Sunday announced his intention to run in the party's primary for Seoul mayor.

Rep. Woo Sang-ho became the party's first member to declare his candidacy to challenge incumbent Park Won-soon, affiliated with the party, who has expressed his willingness to seek a third term in the local elections slated for June.

"I would like to run in the Seoul mayoral election to assist the success of the Moon Jae-in government and change the world," Woo, a former student activist, told reporters. He served as the party's floor leader between May 2016 and May 2017.

Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the ruling Democratic Party announces his intention to run in the party's primary for Seoul mayor in a news conference at the National Assembly on Jan. 21, 2018. (Yonhap)

He praised Mayor Park for meeting the expectations of the civil society but emphasized that a new generation of leadership is needed to cope with new challenges faced by the capital.

"The Moon government promised to change the unfair and unequal society, and ensure people can feel the changes," he said. "I will produce concrete results by practically realizing the Moon government's policy in Seoul." (Yonhap)

저작권자 © The Korea Post 무단전재 및 재배포 금지