[2021 Minju JeonDae] Woo Won-sik Emphasizes "Minsaeng", Hong Young-pyo "Unity", Song Young-gil Highlights "Vaccine·Real Estate"

May 2 Democratic Party Convention
Last Message Emphasized in Presentations by Three Party Leader Candidates

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Gu Chae-eun, Jeon Jin-young] The party convention to elect the next leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea was held on the afternoon of the 2nd at the Yeouido Central Party Office. Democratic Party presidential candidates Song Young-gil, Hong Young-pyo, and Woo Won-shik emphasized their policies and visions once again during their final policy presentations, appealing for last-minute support.

The first to present was candidate Woo Won-shik, who said, "We will break through head-on with people’s livelihood," reiterating the slogan "Into the people, into the field."

Candidate Woo stated, "Unity and innovation, livelihood are the solution and the field is the answer," adding, "We must align with the people's perspective and urgently act on how to give hope to the youth, how to solve the hard livelihood issues, and how to build the belief that the Democratic Party is essential in their lives." He emphasized, "Let's start from the reasons that caused the crisis." Woo diagnosed, "The sound of reform was loud, but the results were slow, and during this time, the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has further impoverished people's lives. The skyrocketing real estate prices have even cut off the ladder of hope," and said, "We must place people's livelihood and balanced development, that is, the lives of the people, at the center of our party."

Woo emphasized that if elected as party leader, he would meticulously manage vaccine supply to make this year the inaugural year of ending COVID-19. He said, "I will strongly push for retroactive compensation for losses and nationwide disaster relief funds." Regarding real estate policy, he stated, "I will firmly block any distortion of public sentiment on real estate that undermines the principle of housing stability for ordinary citizens," and added, "In the party-led 'Comprehensive Real Estate Countermeasure Organization,' we will thoroughly and prudently review and competently supplement measures on speculation eradication, reliable supply, loans, and taxes."

He appealed for last-minute support, saying, "On the evening of the 2nd, we must send a clear signal that 'a representative of people's livelihood has emerged, and the Democratic Party has changed,'" and "Woo Won-shik is the clearest signal."

Next, candidate Hong Young-pyo shouted "Unity," saying, "We will reform with the people and win with the party members." Hong lamented, "The path to the current Democratic Party of Korea, from Shin Ik-hee through Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, to Moon Jae-in, was never smooth. The government we have built with such difficulty is the Moon Jae-in government, but there is an urgency that if we do not change, the regime will change."

He said, "If we lose the presidential election next year, we may fail to protect the people," and pointed out, "Neither innovation nor victory is possible without unity. The division between pro-Moon and non-Moon factions is a shortcut to defeat." Hong declared, "We must unite all our strength," and "I will build a competent party for national governance."

Hong announced that if elected party leader, he would form a talent pool of 5,000 people at the vice-minister level and push presidential pledges and major policies as party platforms. He emphasized "party responsibility politics," saying, "The government will implement policies made by the party, and government personnel will closely consult with the party." He also pledged to lead party innovation by strengthening the ethics inspection organization to give it the status of an 'internal public office' and making the public office candidate recommendation system more transparent and fair. Additionally, he said, "I will persuade the opposition so that the vaccine issue does not become a subject of political strife, and real estate policy will be pursued consistently, correcting what needs to be corrected." He expressed his intention to revise unfair subscription systems and unreasonable loan regulations that have caused frustration among youth, 30-40s office workers, and genuine buyers.

Hong concluded, "From this presidential election, the party will take the lead," and "I will make the Moon Jae-in government successful through party responsibility politics and definitely achieve regime re-creation."

Finally, candidate Song Young-gil emphasized that he would transform the Democratic Party into a competent ruling party with solid skills and substance, leading the stagnant bureaucracy, focusing on securing vaccines and solving real estate issues.

Song highlighted his experience, saying, "I am the only party leader candidate with experience in local government administration," and began by saying, "I empathize with the president's difficulties." He recounted, "When I took office as mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City and saved Incheon from the brink of bankruptcy, I faced shameless attacks from the opposition and experienced immobile bureaucrats, which made me understand how hard President Moon Jae-in must be having it." He appealed to supporters, saying, "The path to competent reform and regime re-creation will begin with choosing Song Young-gil."

First, Song emphasized that with his experience as chairman of the Northern Economic Cooperation Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, he would support the government's vaccine procurement and production. He said, "The core of people's livelihood now is vaccines," and highlighted his strengths, "I have 22 years of parliamentary activity in foreign affairs and networks in the four major powers."

Regarding real estate issues, he pledged to create opportunities for genuine homebuyers without homes to own their own homes. He said, "The government's 2.4 real estate plan will supply 830,000 houses, but even with abundant supply, young genuine buyers cannot afford them," and added, "We must relax LTV tailored for first-time genuine buyers. We should extend loan periods and provide interest rates at reasonable levels." He also mentioned that internationally, he would open new paths for the semiconductor industry and economy amid the US-China conflict and semiconductor war, actively support climate change response, and President Moon Jae-in's 2050 carbon neutrality declaration.

He said, "This is my third run for party leader," and appealed for final support, saying, "I really want to work now. If I become party leader, I will unite Woo Won-shik's field communication skills and leadership in people's livelihood reform and Hong Young-pyo's strong reform-driving ability into one strong one-team."

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