[Photo] Labor union leader declares candidacy in Seoul mayoral race

Kim Jin-sook, a labor leader who joined the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions when she began working as a cashier at Homeplus in 2011, announced her candidacy for the Seoul mayoral race at the National Assembly Proceeding Hall on Apr. 9. Kim is a member of the People’s Party, and defeated Lee Sang-kyu in a race to be the party’s candidate last month.

Following her announcement, Kim travelled to the steps of the Sejong Performing Arts Center where she spoke to a group of labor union members who are supporting her candidacy. “The era of working people taking politics into their own hands is upon us,” she told supports. Kim’s campaign slogan is “The individual politics of 7350,” which is a reference to the country’s current minimum wage. She has made raising the minimum wage a central focus of her campaign. Local elections in South Korea will take place on June 13. (provided by the People’s Party)