Three Ruling Party Leadership Candidates Visit Gangwon... Emphasizing 'Party Reform', 'Overcoming Regionalism', and 'Youth'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Candidates Lee Nak-yeon, Kim Boo-kyum, and Park Joo-min, who are running for the next leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Gangwon Province on the 26th to appeal for support.

At the city and provincial party regional delegates' meeting and joint tour speech held at Sejong Hotel in Chuncheon City that afternoon, candidate Lee Nak-yeon emphasized "party reform and leadership," candidate Kim Boo-kyum stressed "overcoming regionalism," and candidate Park Joo-min highlighted "youth," engaging in a campaign battle. The party convention to elect the next party leadership will be held on the 29th of next month.

Park, who spoke first that day, said, "Is youth a weakness in creating a party that enters the people and communicates with them?" and asked, "Is experience the only answer to fearlessly implementing the solutions gained through communication with the people?" He added, "I am not saying to replace generations. I am saying that all generations should change the era together," appealing, "Do not be afraid, and give me the opportunity to create a party that can change the era."

Candidate Lee appealed with "leadership." He said, "In a crisis, leadership for the crisis is needed," adding, "The Moon Jae-in administration is struggling, and the Democratic Party is struggling. Some people ask me why I am running for party leader, and it is because this is a crisis." He emphasized, "I will burn everything and work like a flame," and "I will mature the party into one that is highly sensitive and responsive to the pain of the vulnerable, including the elderly, women, youth, and low-income groups."

Candidate Kim, emphasizing that he is a politician from the Democratic Party's weak region of Daegu, placed emphasis on "overcoming regionalism." He appealed, "I want to complete a respected Democratic Party that unites the dreams of us and the people of the Republic of Korea." Targeting candidate Lee, Kim said, "You should not change the captain in the middle. When a typhoon is coming, the captain should not say, 'I will only go this far.'" He also said, "Please give the opportunity to a confident worker who can handle four major political tasks until 2022 and fully serve the two-year term as party leader."

The Democratic Party plans to hold joint speeches in the order of Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Daejeon, Chungnam, Sejong, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Incheon starting from the 1st of next month, after completing the tour speeches in Jeju and Gangwon regions.

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