[Interview] Co-Representative Kim Jeonghwa: "The People’s Party is Ahn Cheolsoo’s One-Man Party... Minsheng Party Has Diverse Layers and Colors"

General Election's First Pledge 'Post-Corona Livelihood'
Targeting 20 District Seats and 10 Proportional Representation Seats
Must Show Centrist Reform Politics Beyond Honam

Kim Jeong-hwa, co-representative of the Minsaeng Party, is being interviewed at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] "Within the broad framework of centrism, we are in a competitive relationship with the People’s Party. The People’s Party is a one-man party centered on Ahn Cheol-soo, but we are not. The Minsaeng Party has many members with diverse layers and colors."

Kim Jeong-hwa, co-representative of the Minsaeng Party, stated in an interview with Asia Economy on the afternoon of the 23rd at the National Assembly party leader’s office regarding centrist competition in the third zone, "In fact, what is more important than old ideologies is the people’s livelihood issues. The third zone centrist parties were born for that purpose," adding, "Unlike the People’s Party which relies on the name Ahn Cheol-soo, the Minsaeng Party solely serves the interests of the people." She also criticized the People’s Party’s proportional representation nominations, saying, "Numbers 2 and 3 are ultimately just a project for the re-election of former and current lawmakers, nothing more or less," and called it "a nomination that fails to inspire."

Regarding the 'Telegram Nth Room incident,' Co-representative Kim said, "Our country is too lenient on sex crimes. There can be no tolerance for those close to demons who require permanent social isolation," emphasizing, "For the 260,000 users, their identities must be disclosed as a strict punishment." The Minsaeng Party is preparing women’s safety pledges including ▲mandatory reporting of child sexual exploitation materials and penalties for violations ▲establishment of a dedicated investigation unit for online sex crimes against minors ▲strengthening penalties for possession of child sexual exploitation videos and raising sentencing standards ▲active utilization of victim compensation order systems.

Kim Jeong-hwa, co-representative of the Minsaeng Party, is giving an interview at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Minsaeng Party’s goal in the April 15 general election is 20 constituency seats and 10 proportional representation seats. Co-representative Kim said, "Incumbent lawmakers in Honam can overwhelm the Democratic Party through their own competitiveness," adding, "What is important is to not be confined to Honam but to show what centrist reform politics is. In Seoul and other metropolitan areas, young people should take the lead focusing on innovation and the future." In line with this, the Minsaeng Party plans to appoint Im Han-sol, chairman of the Justice Society Realization Special Committee and known as the 'Jeon Du-hwan Tracker,' as the youth spokesperson for the election committee.

The Minsaeng Party will announce 'Post-COVID Livelihood' as its first election pledge. The plan is to overcome the livelihood economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by mobilizing the central bank’s issuance power. Specifically, measures include corporate and income tax refunds and reductions to prevent bankruptcy of small business owners and self-employed individuals, doubling the unemployment benefit payment period, doubling social security benefits for vulnerable groups, and providing emergency living funds to irregular workers and freelance cultural artists.

Regarding former Bareunmirae Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu’s role, Co-representative Kim said, "I am not sure of his current intentions, but I expect he will serve as the standing election committee chairman." On the Minsaeng Party being classified as part of the pro-government bloc, Kim said, "If we are opposition, then opposition, so why pro-government?" and added, "The Minsaeng Party does not exist to be the Democratic Party’s second squad."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.