[Full Text] Sohn Hak-kyu: "Over 50% of candidates aged 20-40... Election expenses support up to 100 million won"

by Lim Chunhan

Published 09 Jan.2020 11:49(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, stated on the 9th regarding the strategy for the 21st general election, “The era’s demand for the 21st general election is generational change,” and added, “We will nominate more than 50% of candidates from the 20s, 30s, and 40s age groups,” further stating, “To reduce the financial burden of election expenses for the nominated young candidates, the party will support up to 100 million KRW in election costs if the given qualifications and conditions are met.”

At a New Year press conference held at the Yeouido party headquarters that day, Sohn said, “The political realignment that will unfold ahead of this general election must be a political realignment for generational change, which is the era’s task of this election.”

Sohn presented three major election revolution visions to fulfill the era’s tasks of political structural reform and generational change: ▲People’s Nomination Revolution, ▲Avengers Revolution, and ▲National Assembly Revolution.

◆ The full text of Leader Sohn’s speech is as follows:

Respected citizens,

Dear proud members and comrades of the Bareunmirae Party,

The dawn of the Year of the White Rat has arrived.

In this year symbolizing abundance and prosperity, I wish that great blessings fill the homes of the people and party comrades, and that your endeavors be fulfilled as you serve.

The country is in difficulty. The economy is trapped in a prolonged slump, making the lives of the people increasingly harsh. The security situation and diplomatic relations surrounding inter-Korean relations have rapidly deteriorated, pushing the Korean Peninsula toward crisis. In the face of this perfect storm, our Republic of Korea stands at a critical crossroads: whether to move forward or regress.

To overcome this, we have two historic tasks: one is political structural reform, and the other is political generational change.

First, the upcoming general election, just three months away, must end the extreme confrontation between the two major parties and serve as an opportunity to change our country’s political structure to a multiparty coalition politics. The mixed-member proportional representation system, which was opened by my hunger strike at the end of the year before last and finally saw the light of day at the end of last year, although it became fragmented during negotiations, still represents the first step toward political reform.

We cannot survive without change. The president’s unlimited power no longer stabilizes politics. Politics has declined due to the extreme struggles of the two major parties and fails to play any role in economic development, people’s livelihood, security, or social integration. Without a consensual democracy where multiple parties negotiate, compromise, and agree to govern, we cannot overcome the crisis. Our politics must now move from extreme confrontation to coalition politics that unites public opinion through compromise and agreement.

Second, new political reform must be entrusted to a new political generation. Today, along with the declaration of political structural reform, I want to declare generational change in politics. The future generation, represented by youth, must become the main actors in our politics.

The era’s demand for the 21st general election is generational change. The world, where the Fourth Industrial Revolution is underway, is changing at the speed of light. To avoid falling behind in this rapid change, politics must become younger and more competent. Now is the time to give opportunities to the future generation. Through a radical generational change, we must bring a fresh breeze to politics and the nation.

To fulfill the era’s tasks of political structural reform and generational change, I hereby declare the three major election revolutions for the 21st general election. This is also an essential task for Korea to advance as a new republic.

First, the ‘People’s Nomination Revolution.’ For the first time in Korean history, we will return the nomination of National Assembly members to the great people. We will no longer conduct secret nominations in the party leader’s office or undemocratic nominations but will carry out people’s nominations that accurately reflect the will of the people. We will build a ‘political platform’ and create a system that anyone can participate in and share. We will establish a system that discovers and nominates candidates using not only opinion polls but also big data and artificial intelligence (AI).

Second, the ‘Avengers Revolution.’ Not a ‘their own league’ of privileged groups such as prosecutors, judges, senior officials, and activist backgrounds, but ‘Avengers,’ that is, ‘hidden heroes’ who truly represent the people and have contributed to national development, including the future generation, women, teachers, salaried workers, and socially disadvantaged groups, will be put forward and made the new main actors in politics. We will provide support equivalent to that given to the future generation to new ‘ordinary people’ rather than established politicians. The Bareunmirae Party will create Korea’s own ‘Macron Project.’

Third, the ‘National Assembly Revolution.’ We will take the lead in transforming the National Assembly from the stigma of ‘privilege and unfairness’ into a hall of ‘great ordinary people.’ We will link the world’s highest level of National Assembly members’ salaries to attendance rates at plenary sessions and, in the long term, reduce them to the median income level. We will halve the number of aides and thoroughly review all the numerous privileges granted to National Assembly members, including immunity and non-arrest privileges, from the ground up. Like in many European countries, we want to see National Assembly members as servants who commute by bicycle like ordinary people.

Respected citizens,

Our politics must change. First, the main actors in politics must change. I repeat, the Bareunmirae Party will adopt political structural reform as the first strategy and generational change as the second strategy for the 21st general election.

First, the power structure must change. The imperial presidential system is no longer desirable and no longer functions. No matter how much unlimited imperial power the president holds, he can no longer manipulate the National Assembly at will by force, authority, or charisma. Recent political history shows this. As long as the National Assembly refuses, the president can do nothing. For political stability, the power structure must change to one centered on the National Assembly. This is why the two-party system must change to a multiparty system in this National Assembly, followed by a constitutional amendment to change the power structure.

Next is generational change. The era’s demand for the 21st general election is ‘generational change.’ To avoid falling behind in the world’s changes, politics must become younger and more competent. Established politics is not leading change but rather delaying social progress.

Politics will be shaken ahead of the general election. The political realignment that will unfold before this election must be a political realignment for generational change, the era’s task of this election. The future generation is not an object to be recruited. Every election season, parties make a fuss about recruiting talent. However, where are those talents now? Because youth are used only as tools of power politics, they soon become lackeys of old politics.

The Bareunmirae Party declares that the future generation is an equal partner in the coalition. One or two young people cannot achieve generational change. The future generation must become a force to make generational change real and substantial. The Bareunmirae Party will ally with the future generation and become their partner so that they can be the main actors in political reform.

The Bareunmirae Party will participate in the future generation’s roundtable as one entity. I urge those who hold other axes in the third zone to join in creating a stage for the future generation to jump in for the great cause of generational and political change.

The future generation needs bold challenges. Do not expect or rely on established politics. You must bravely challenge directly. I demand that you do not let yourselves be mere decorations of established politics but advance into politics, seize the future, and that the future generation take over the Bareunmirae Party.

The upcoming political realignment will be a competition between the ‘established politics life-extension realignment’ led by established conservative political forces such as the Liberty Korea Party and the ‘political realignment for generational change’ involving the third zone.

To achieve generational change, the Bareunmirae Party will respond actively. We will nominate more than 50% of candidates from the 20s, 30s, and 40s age groups. To reduce the financial burden of election expenses for these young candidates, the party will support up to 100 million KRW in election costs if the given qualifications and conditions are met. The criteria and qualification screening will be conducted using scientific methods.

Furthermore, we will create a stronghold for the future generation’s political storm by giving ‘David nominations’ to brave future generation politicians who boldly challenge Goliath-like veteran old politicians. The Bareunmirae Party will provide the most advanced slingshots that these future generation Davids will throw.

Through this nomination revolution, election revolution, and National Assembly revolution, our Bareunmirae Party aims to lay the foundation for political reform toward the 7th Republic. For this, I ask for the active response and support of party comrades and the people.

Great citizens,

Like Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who shouted, “I still have twelve ships,” even in the crisis of foreign invasion like a candle in the wind, I want to shout that “The Republic of Korea has 50 million great people” amid the perfect storm approaching domestically and internationally. Our great people will save the country in crisis. We must succeed in political revolution through the 21st general election to give hope to the people. I pray that the people will unite their strength behind the Bareunmirae Party, which will boldly pioneer a new path. We will unite the people’s power in the general election and create a country where the people are the owners.

Recently, our party’s precious political asset, former leader Ahn Cheol-soo, declared his political return and yesterday personally sent New Year greetings to party members. Through a text message, former leader Ahn stated, “Sincerity, goodwill, and original intention have not changed even now.” We warmly welcome former leader Ahn’s political return.

I believe that former leader Ahn will play a significant role in the victory of the centrist reform party in the general election. I want to reiterate that I will do everything I can to enable him to fulfill that role and responsibility.

Respected citizens, beloved party comrades!

The night before dawn is the darkest. And now, the Republic of Korea and the Bareunmirae Party have passed the darkest night. Now, with the determination to end the old political structure that blocks Korea’s development in this general election, we must face the election.

If the Bareunmirae Party can bring together the future generation, our neighbors, and all reform forces at one place, political reform will no longer be a dream. Politics that works only for the people, politics that gives hope to the people, we will create ‘a country where we live well together, the 7th Republic’ with our own hands and provide the people with a true ‘life with evenings.’

If I can complete generational change and political structural reform in Korean politics, I will be satisfied with the role of the candle that had to stand alone during the dark night.

I ask the people to give great support to the political structural reform and generational change that the Bareunmirae Party will unfold this year, and to the drama of the People’s Nomination Revolution, Avengers Election Revolution, National Assembly Reform, and National Assembly Revolution for this purpose.

One more thing. Today, our Bareunmirae Party is launching a YouTube broadcasting station. We now live in the SNS era, especially the YouTube era. This general election will also be a YouTube election. Today’s New Year press conference was held here at the YouTube studio to coincide with the launch of the YouTube broadcast. I ask party comrades, supporters, and journalists to show active interest and support for the Bareunmirae Party’s YouTube channel.