Kim Byung-min, Emergency Committee Chair, "Change Inevitable for Entire Party Platform... Not a 'Pseudo Democratic Party'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Byung-min, Emergency Response Committee member of the United Future Party, stated that "a change in the entire party platform and policies is inevitable," and announced plans to include core agendas for the future of the community, such as solidarity with the socially vulnerable and discourse on welfare policies, in the party platform.

On the 3rd, Kim appeared on YTN Radio's "Noh Young-hee's Start Morning" and said, "Some say we are completely overhauling everything, but we need to firmly root ourselves in the (conservative) spirit while sufficiently addressing what we have missed so far."

He added, "What we have missed are empathy and solidarity with the socially vulnerable, discourse on welfare policies, and concrete concerns and plans for the future of the national community," and said, "We plan to include content on how to first bring out these core agendas for the future of the community in the party platform."

Regarding concerns that such changes might turn the party into a 'pseudo-Democratic Party,' he said, "I think the worries and concerns are understandable, but there is a misunderstanding," and explained, "If we emphasize only freedom and the right wing too much, we cannot get closer to the people and their lives, so the intention was to avoid being trapped in that way of thinking."

About Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee chairman, telling members at the parliamentary meeting on the 2nd to "stop picking fights," Kim Byung-min explained, "Change can mean a break from what is familiar to some extent," and said, "Since change has not even started yet, rather than expressing worries and concerns, if we all cooperate little by little, won't there be a future for our party? That is why he spoke so bluntly about not picking fights."

Regarding the basic income discussion, Kim said, "We can put all aspects of the basic income system and welfare discourse on the table for discussion, but we have not actively declared that we will implement a basic income system," and added, "There have been countless welfare policies so far, and if we continue to add on welfare policies without changing these, it could lead to a serious situation of national fiscal collapse."

He continued, "We can have sufficient discussions about the direction of a paradigm shift in welfare policies, but the premise is how to adjust welfare policies within the limited existing resources, which is also a very important issue," and added, "We are ready to put all policies that we have somewhat distanced ourselves from on the discussion table."

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