Lee Jae-myung's Think Tank 'SebaJeong' Launched... "Will Implement Bold Innovation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential candidate from the ruling party and governor of Gyeonggi Province, launched the mammoth policy advisory group ‘Changing the World Policy 2022 (Sebajeong)’ on the 18th and began full-scale efforts to spread its influence.

At the Sebajeong launch ceremony, which was 공개ed on YouTube, Lee said in a video congratulatory message, "In today’s era of global transformation, for the nation to fulfill its fundamental functions, new approaches and bold innovations are necessary," adding, "It’s okay to be bold. If you only suggest the methods, I will take charge of implementing them." Lee stated, "With courage, determination, and strong drive, I will pave the way and surely make a new Republic of Korea a reality," and said, "I support and welcome the start of Sebajeong."

Lee Han-ju, co-representative of Sebajeong and president of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, emphasized, “We will fully inherit the democratic and successful policies implemented and promoted by the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations, overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and new normal crisis, and focus on justice and fairness.” Sebajeong, as a policy advisory ‘think tank,’ consists of about 40 policy production research units, including 20 subcommittees corresponding to government ministries, task forces (TFs) for major policies, and special research groups. Professors and former ministers form the core, with a total of about 1,800 members registered.

Co-CEO Hanju Lee of Sebajeong (Source: YouTube 'Sebajeong')

Co-representatives include former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok and former Minister of Gender Equality and Family Jung Hyun-baek from the Moon Jae-in administration. Policy advisors and consultants include former Deputy Prime Minister for Unification Han Wan-sang, Kyungpook National University Professor Emeritus Lee Jung-woo, who served as policy chief at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and former Deputy Minister of Unification Cheon Hae-sung, who played a behind-the-scenes role in inter-Korean summits during the Moon Jae-in administration.

The Lee Jae-myung camp is steadily expanding nationwide support groups in addition to academic and expert organizations centered on ‘Sebajeong.’ Previously, the ‘Democratic Peace Plaza,’ an expanded reorganization of former leader Lee Hae-chan’s ‘Plaza,’ had 15,000 founding members with co-representatives including Assemblyman Jo Jung-sik and former Minister Lee Jong-seok. Currently, the organization has expanded to 60,000 members with a central headquarters, 17 metropolitan headquarters, and over 50 regional and functional headquarters.

The parliamentary support organization think tank ‘National Assembly Forum for Growth and Fairness in the Republic of Korea (Seonggong Forum)’ also involved 35 current lawmakers, including co-representatives Kim Byung-wook and Min Hyung-bae. The Daedong Sesang Research Association, chaired by Lee Jae-myung faction lawmaker Lee Kyu-min, is also launching regional organizations one after another. The supporter group based in Seongnam City, where Lee first started his political career, called ‘Seongnam People with Lee Jae-myung (Ihamseong),’ was launched last June with close aide Assemblyman Kim Byung-wook as co-representative.

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