"BTS Ihaehaneun Jeongdang Dwaeya"... Park Hyeongjun's Advice at United Party Freshmen Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Professor Park Hyung-jun of Dong-A University, who served as the election campaign committee chairman of the United Future Party, emphasized the need for the party's reform in structure and culture, saying, "We need to become a party with a young sensibility that understands BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan)."

On the morning of the 10th, Professor Park gave a lecture at the United Future Party's freshman study group "Myeongbulheojeon" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, saying, "Overcome being a 'kkondae party'."

About 20 lawmakers, including Heo Eun-ah, Jeon Ju-hye, Kang Dae-sik, Kim Seung-soo, and Han Mu-kyung, attended the freshman meeting that day.

At the meeting, Professor Park lectured on the causes of the general election defeat, the meaning of innovation, and innovation in thought and leadership. He analyzed the reason by stating, "We achieved unification but failed to achieve innovation," pointing out the tilted political landscape and the political effects of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as causes.

He further pointed out that the United Future Party targeted those aged 60 and above, conservative voters in the Yeongnam region, and hardline conservative YouTubers as its main audience and customers, advising, "We must go beyond identity politics based on left-wing hatred."

Professor Park advised abandoning the existing 'market fundamentalism' and actively seeking effective alternatives to inequality and fairness issues, along with a shift toward ecological liberalism awareness after the COVID-19 crisis. He also added, "Lead the agenda and issues, but prepare and lead alternatives."

He emphasized that the party must transform its structure into a youth party and a professional party, evolving into a party that values empathy, thereby overcoming the 'kkondae party' label. Professor Park said, "The competition should shift from conservative versus progressive, left versus right, to a competition between the past and the future."

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