Amid rising global oil prices tied to recent tensions in the Middle East, Kim Kyung-soo, the Democratic Party candidate for governor of South Gyeongsang Province, visited Changwon to meet gas station operators and hear their concerns about the price spike.
The Democratic Party’s South Gyeongsang chapter said Kim toured a gas station in Seongsan District on the afternoon of the 10th and then met with the provincial chapter of the Gas Station Association.
The visit was intended to assess domestic oil market trends and examine how rising fuel costs are affecting everyday expenses for residents amid recent Middle East developments.
On site, Kim spoke with gas station operators about how the price surge has affected their businesses and the challenges they face.
At the subsequent meeting, participants discussed the industry’s business environment and the need for policy and regulatory changes. Industry representatives pointed to intense competition, problematic trading arrangements with refiners, and the burden of card transaction fees, and they urged regulatory reform and policy support.
Kim said, “Rising global oil prices quickly raise living costs for residents and strain the regional economy. Based on what I heard today, I will closely examine how higher fuel prices affect people’s lives and pursue regulatory improvements and measures to protect livelihoods.”
Earlier that morning, Kim also visited the Gyeongnam provincial office and the provincial assembly press room. He apologized to residents for the interruption to provincial administration—regardless of the cause—and pledged to devote himself to the development of South Gyeongsang Province.
