‘Jiyeok Baljeon Jeongchaek Yeonguwon’ Online Discussion... ‘Sidae Jindan - Where Should Politics Go?’

Park Dae-woo, Director of the Regional Development Policy Institute, "Paying Attention to Indicators Showing Changing Public Sentiment in Honam"
Possibility of Breaking Regionalism and Democratic Party's Monopoly Structure Increasing

Park Dae-woo, Director of the Regional Development Policy Institute.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] It is forecasted that South Korea's political landscape could drastically change depending on Honam's political choices in the 2022 presidential and local elections.

On June 1, at the online video conference titled "Diagnosis of the Era - Where Should Politics Go," hosted by the Regional Development Policy Institute, Director Park Daewoo delivered a keynote speech highlighting, "We are paying attention to indicators showing that the public sentiment in Honam is changing."

During the approximately 30-minute online video discussion with Dr. Lee Jin, the inaugural Secretary-General of the Public Labor Union, Director Park pointed out, "There has been accumulated fatigue from the Democratic Party's monopoly in politics, revealing the detrimental disappearance of leadership in Honam politics," adding, "Along with this, voices are growing louder that the limitations of neighborhood politics, where groups support and share among themselves, must be overcome."

He continued, "From an economic perspective, it is no longer possible to seek regional economic vitality by relying on the central government; therefore, an innovative regional development model must be introduced." To achieve this, he argued that diversity and innovative changes prioritizing market economy and livelihood administration are necessary, moving away from the centralized party nomination system.

Director Park asserted, "The outdated political culture, where political leadership is not acquired through grassroots structures that gain support from local public sentiment or outstanding administrative capabilities leading to central politics, but rather by quickly aligning with future powers and then returning to Honam with careers in the central government or the Blue House as if on a merit leave, must be fundamentally improved."

He analyzed, "The recent unusual approval ratings of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and the Lee Jun-seok syndrome appearing in the People Power Party reflect public rejection of the existing political order and expectations for new political forces," while simultaneously calling it "a strong warning against the old-fashioned politics still obsessed with black-and-white logic."

Director Park, who analyzed these changes as an absolute opportunity for minority opposition parties long suppressed by the Democratic Party's monopoly politics, emphasized, "Minority opposition parties must respond to the era's demand to change Honam's political soil," and stressed, "They should pursue a groundbreaking method of candidate unification that surprises and gains recognition from local residents, and take the lead in policy agendas reflecting regional issues."

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