Kim Du-gwan Directly Criticizes Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung: "Negative Clashes Intensify... Because They Did Not Present Policies"

"Because Both Candidates Were Far from Party Legitimacy"

On the afternoon of the 4th, candidate Kim Du-kwan is preparing for the debate at the Democratic Party presidential primary candidates' debate held at the YTN Media Center. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Kim Du-kwan, a candidate in the Democratic Party presidential primary, pointed to candidates Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung as the main figures in the party's negative exchanges.

On the 8th, Kim posted on his Facebook, saying, "Both candidates lack a national vision, so they have been bickering over remarks about Baekje being a reason for Honam exclusion theory, or whether they took photos with gangsters," adding, "It is really a good thing, albeit late, that candidate Lee Jae-myung declared a halt to negative campaigning and candidate Lee Nak-yeon immediately welcomed it."

He continued, "Only now can we leave behind the primary tainted by negativity and, as I have consistently argued, engage in fierce debates focused on national vision and policies."

He further stated, "The reason the negative exchanges heated up was that the past records of the two candidates were far from the qualities, morality, and party legitimacy required of a Democratic Party presidential candidate," and a bigger reason was "neither candidate presented the vision and policies that must be declared for the country's future and the happiness of the people."

Regarding candidate Lee Jae-myung's pledges, Kim criticized, "He advocates for transitional fair growth and basic income, but transitional fair growth is just a list of vague concepts, and basic income is merely a policy idea that is difficult to realize immediately."

He also pointed out that candidate Lee Nak-yeon's pledges "only bring to mind new welfare," adding, "Even that is just a slight improvement on current welfare policies and cannot be a national future vision."

Meanwhile, mentioning his own pledges, he stated, "I have clearly presented the dismantling of the Seoul Republic and a five-region local federal system as a definite national vision. Only through a local federal system can all issues such as real estate, transportation, and industry be resolved, and South Korea can truly become an advanced country." He expressed confidence by saying, "Among the six candidates, no one but me has presented a national vision."

At the end of his post, Kim said, "To avoid repeating the disgraceful and low-level exchanges that embarrassed the public, I hope that from this week's third debate onward, each candidate will reveal their national vision, and especially that there will be intense discussions over the strengthening and dismantling of the Seoul Republic."

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