Song Gap-seok "Postponing the Primary Is Not an Easy Issue... The Presidential Election Planning Team Leader Should Not Be a Veteran Lawmaker"

Presidential Election Planning Team Renamed as 'Presidential Primary Planning Team'... Management Limited to Primaries
Leader Being Broadly Considered Both Inside and Outside the Assembly
Youth Supreme Council Member Lee Dong-hak Should Focus More on Existing Youth Future Council
Primary Candidate Registration Scheduled for 23rd to 25th

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Song Gap-seok, the Strategic Planning Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated regarding the proposal to postpone the primary election, "It does not seem to be an easy issue realistically," and announced that the presidential election planning team will be launched during the week. The name has been finalized as the 'Presidential Primary Election Planning Team,' and a senior lawmaker with multiple terms will not take the position of the team leader. Regarding Lee Dong-hak, the Youth Supreme Council member who was mentioned as a candidate for the team leader in the media the previous day, he drew a line by saying, "He should focus more on the existing Youth Future Council he is in charge of."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Chairman Song appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and spoke about the party's primary election schedule.

Regarding the postponement of the presidential primary, Chairman Song said, "It is not something that can be reviewed immediately just because of a few remarks from some quarters," and added, "When calculating backward from the presidential election date, it is expected to be held around June 21, but realistically, the candidate registration process will begin around June 23 to 25."

Regarding the launch of the presidential election planning team, he said, "It seems it will be launched during this week," and added, "It is unlikely that senior lawmakers with multiple terms will take the position of team leader, and we are looking for people who can lead broadly both inside and outside the National Assembly."

Although Lee Dong-hak, the Youth Supreme Council member, was mentioned as a candidate for the team leader the previous day, Chairman Song said, "No," and explained, "This Supreme Council member is co-chairing the Youth Future Council. It is as important as the presidential election planning team, so we think he should focus a bit more on the Youth Future Council."

He also explained that the name has been finalized as the 'Presidential Primary Election Planning Team.'

He emphasized, "When people hear 'presidential election planning team,' it is often overhyped," and added, "So this time, we named it the 'Presidential Primary Election Planning Team.' It only manages up to the primary election." He continued, "Since special party regulations have already been established, the Presidential Primary Election Planning Team is not the place to create the rules."

Chairman Song said, "In the specific process of conducting the presidential primary, it is highly likely to be untact (contactless) rather than the previous methods of debates and regional tours, so we are considering what elements can be introduced to make it more entertaining and how to allow the voices of the younger generation to be heard," adding, "The 2030 generation will also participate significantly."

Meanwhile, regarding lawmakers who were urged to leave the party due to real estate speculation allegations but are resisting, Chairman Song said, "In the case of five lawmakers related to violations of the Farmland Act, there are many aspects that are truly unfair, so it has not immediately led to their departure," and added, "It will be resolved soon."

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