Democratic Party appoints Rep. Kim Yun as Icheon district chair

Rep. Kim Yun of the Democratic Party of Korea announced Tuesday that she had been appointed the party's district chair for Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, following approval by the party's supreme council and executive committee on June 29.

Kim, a former Seoul National University medical school professor, is regarded as an expert in health care policy. During the first half of the 22nd National Assembly, she served on the Health and Welfare Committee, focusing on strengthening essential regional medical services, supporting medically underserved areas, expanding public hospitals, building a medical accident safety net and broadening national health insurance coverage. Within the party, she serves as standing vice chair of the Democratic Party's policy committee and as a deputy floor leader.

Icheon has long been considered a conservative stronghold and one of the Democratic Party's most challenging electoral districts. "Over the past few days, I have received much concern, encouragement and support regarding a proportional representative from a professional background taking on this difficult contest," Kim said. "I will now carry all of those words with me and devote myself completely to delivering a victory for a united Icheon Democratic Party."

She added that Icheon faces a number of pressing challenges. "Agriculture and the advanced semiconductor industry must grow at the same time, and we must look after both children's education and care for the elderly," she said. "We must also solve the problem of medical vulnerability — even though Icheon is part of the greater Seoul metropolitan area, residents still have to travel all the way to Seoul for medical care. I will dedicate the time the people have given me to making Icheon a city where everyone wants to live."