Opposition 0-term and First-term Representative Candidates Debate Face-off: "Is Quota System Abolition Fair?"

Lee Jun-seok "Competition is Fair" vs Kim Eun-hye "Certain People Benefit"
Kim Woong Proposes Permanent Nomination Committee and Nomination System Reform
Lee Jun-seok Advocates Revolutionary Presidential Debate Format Overhaul
Kim Eun-hye Holds Presidential Candidate Political Concert

Kim Woong, Kim Eun-hye, Lee Jun-seok, People Power Party Rookie Party Leader Candidates Debate
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Junyi Park and Juseok Naju] Former Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye, both candidates in the party leadership election, clashed head-on over Lee Jun-seok’s proposal to abolish the 'quota system.' Lee argued that applying equal standards to everyone is fair, while Kim countered that this approach also favors certain groups, making it unfair.

On the 22nd, Kim Eun-hye, Lee Jun-seok, and lawmaker Kim Woong presented their visions and strategies as party leadership candidates at the People Power Party’s political culture platform 'How's' located in Yeouido, Seoul.

During the open debate, Kim Eun-hye focused her criticism on Lee Jun-seok’s 'abolition of the quota system' and his concept of 'fairness.' The day before, Kim had proposed a debate on Facebook, challenging Lee by saying, "Let’s discuss whether Lee Jun-seok-style fairness is truly fair." When Kim asked Lee how he met former President Park Geun-hye, Lee replied, "Our volunteer group is sponsored by Daewoo Securities," adding, "Lee Chang-geun, former deputy director of the Yeouido Research Institute who worked at Daewoo Securities, recommended me to Park’s campaign."

Kim then pointed out, "When you entered politics, you had people who recognized you, which helped you reach the top ranks. If the quota system is abolished, what alternative is there?" Lee responded, "In the civil service exam, you prove your ability; there’s no need to look for connections through your father." He added, "I believe our party should regularly and fairly select talented individuals. Whether it’s debates, speeches, or policy contests, if we create a fair competition, I would want to join our party."

Kim Eun-hye questioned Lee, "Competition is important, but even fair competition benefits those who have already reached a certain level. What if there are people who don’t debate much but serve their communities quietly and have lived better lives in their regions?"

Lee Jun-seok replied, "If there are fair standards, then competition is possible. Without those (fair standards), it becomes what the younger generation calls 'self-written novels' (fictionalized resumes)."

Kim Eun-hye added, "We think if we study hard, we can get into Seoul National University, but nowadays, people get in because they are someone’s son or daughter. Yet adults keep saying that hard work leads to success." She emphasized, "We need to think about how to provide better jobs for young people, how to ease corporate regulations so companies actively hire youth."

The candidates also introduced their blueprints for party reform.

Kim Woong promised a comprehensive reform of the candidate nomination system. He said, "After coming to Yeouido, I realized the most important issue for our party’s innovation is candidate nomination. The nomination committee is supposed to be formed 90 days before the election, but no management takes place. Ultimately, the nomination committee decides everything." Kim proposed, "By institutionalizing the nomination committee and conducting three rounds of surveys annually (50% public opinion, 50% party member opinion), candidates can be selected based on these results. If there are objections, a nomination jury system can be used to ensure fairness. This is the only way to prevent 'hotteok nominations' and factionalism." He also suggested engineering the party by publicly electing positions like secretary-general from engineers and announced plans to establish a Korean-style Heritage Foundation with a 10 billion won fund to build a youth political ecosystem.

Lee Jun-seok promised changes to the debate format considering the upcoming presidential election’s excitement. He criticized the current debate style, saying, "Candidates debate in a free-for-all 1-on-1-on-1-on-1 format, which naturally leads to each candidate allocating time to speak and instinctively attacking others. To ease this, we could consider a format where two teams of two debate together." Lee illustrated, "If former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Hong Joon-pyo formed a team, would they move forward even one step? What if former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo teamed up?how would they start? During preparation, who would invite whom for a beer? Even good speakers change their posture in two-person debates." He introduced this idea as a chance to showcase candidates’ strengths through innovative primary debates.

Kim Eun-hye said, "To achieve regime change, I want to immediately launch a presidential election planning team and hold political concerts with presidential candidates." She also proposed reform measures including a ‘radical transformation program’ featuring solutions for low growth and polarization, solidarity with socially vulnerable groups, fully open primaries for presidential candidates, and youth candidate quotas, along with redefining fairness.

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