Lee Jae-myung: "Crisis of Unfairness and Polarization... Let's Open a 'Daedongse-sang' with 'Eokgangbuyak' Politics"

Seongnam Mayor Then Gyeonggi Province Governor
Strengths: Drive and Organizational Control
Weaknesses: Negative Attacks Beyond Family Issues
Image Imprinted as Fighter and Bulldog
Support Rate in Range for 10 Months
Basic Series: Income, Housing, Finance
Threatened in Primary if Anti-Lee Jae-myung Unification

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung and Gu Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized a ‘strong economic policy’ when declaring his presidential candidacy. He highlighted the practical spirit and the role of the public sector, stating that "the issue of making a living is the most important." He also used the expression ‘Eokgangbuyak’ (suppressing the strong and helping the weak) as a main task to resolve unfairness. Compared to the political participation declaration of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl two days ago, there is also an effort to present a more concrete direction.

"We must restrain the desires of the strong based on privilege and unfairness and embrace the lives of the weak through Eokgangbuyak politics, moving toward a Daedongse-sang where everyone lives well together."

This passage at the beginning of the declaration is interpreted as clearly defining his identity as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. ‘Daedongse-sang,’ meaning ‘a world where all people live together equally,’ is mainly used in progressive discourse, and among his support groups, there is also the ‘Daedongse-sang Research Association.’

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election, visited the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 1st. After paying respects at the Student Volunteer Army Unknown Soldier Monument, he responded to questions from the press. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

◆ Emphasis on Active State Intervention= The diagnosis of reality is a ‘crisis,’ with the cause identified as ‘unfairness and polarization,’ which is also seen as adversely affecting the economy. Lee emphasized, "Inequality and polarization go beyond the emotional issue of relative poverty; they damage growth engines through inefficient resource allocation and deteriorated competition efficiency, leading to economic recession and low growth." He also used expressions such as "a ruthless survival of the fittest where only winners survive" and "a country with unfairness is doomed." He mentioned the ‘New Deal.’ Lee said, "Like the New Deal during the Great Depression, in this era of great transformation, the public sector must pave the way so that the private sector can boldly invest and innovate." This passage evokes the ‘Korean New Deal’ promoted by the Moon Jae-in administration and seems to carry the meaning of continuing Moon’s government.

Along with rationalizing regulations, he mentioned large-scale infrastructure expansion and strong industrial-economic restructuring. This shows an economic development direction involving active state intervention. As specific policy measures, he proposed flagship brands such as basic income, basic housing, and a universal welfare state, and also promised ‘equal pay for equal work,’ a long-standing labor issue. Lee appealed his achievements as the greatest competitiveness, which he accomplished while serving as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province. He used expressions like "just as we managed to remove illegal facilities in valleys that seemed impossible" and "proven by results." He also emphasized that "although a dirt spoon and non-mainstream, I turned crises into opportunities and produced results." This appears to stem from an effort to maximize a pro-commoner image.

◆ SWOT Analysis= Lee’s greatest strengths are ‘bureaucratic control’ and ‘achievements as an administrator.’ His bulldozer-like drive and organizational control were noted as strengths during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province. Representative examples include providing disaster relief funds to Gyeonggi residents through local currency during the COVID-19 crisis and introducing CCTV in operating rooms at Gyeonggi public medical centers.

Controversies related to his older brother and sister-in-law’s family affairs and negative attacks involving actress Kim Bu-seon are analyzed as weaknesses. Legal battles related to family affairs have imprinted images such as ‘fighter’ and ‘bulldog,’ which are vulnerable points. It is also analyzed that the reason his approval ratings have remained in the 20-30% range for 10 months, stuck in a ‘box range,’ is due to this image.

His flagship brand, ‘basic income,’ is an opportunity factor. Lee has consistently promoted his own ‘basic series’ policies such as basic income, basic finance, and basic housing. On the other hand, if other presidential candidates within the ruling party unite against Lee, this could act as a threat. The fact that he still has not won over pro-Moon Jae-in supporters within the Democratic Party is also a threat in the presidential primary where a runoff vote applies.

Lee was born in 1964 in a remote mountain village in Andong, Gyeongbuk, as the son of a slash-and-burn farmer. After passing the qualification exam, he entered the law school at Chung-Ang University and passed the bar exam in 1986. He engaged in civic movements centered around Seongnam as an international solidarity committee member of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), executive director of the Seongnam Participation Solidarity, and head of the Seongnam Anti-Corruption Reporting Center of the National Integrity Commission. In 2017, he competed with President Moon Jae-in in the party’s presidential primary and was elected governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2018. He suffered hardships due to various allegations and legal battles related to family affairs but was acquitted by the Supreme Court in July last year. He currently maintains the top position among ruling party candidates in various opinion polls.

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