Hwang Soon-sik: "No Second Roh Hoe-chan or Sim Sang-jung Seen... Will Break Out of Activist Mold and Play Role in Generational Integration" (Comprehensive)

Presidential Candidate Relay Interview ⑫ Hwang Soon-sik, Chairperson of the Justice Party Gyeonggi Province Committee

"Focusing on Healing Divided Wounds"
Also Proposes a Basic Income of 300,000 Won per Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] "The problem is that in a situation where progressive politics is facing a crisis, the Justice Party does not have a ‘second Roh Hoe-chan or Sim Sang-jung.’ As Generation X, connecting the 86 Generation and the MZ Generation (born early 1980s to early 2000s), not the stereotypical activist, I will become the Justice Party’s renewed representative player."

Hwang Soon-sik, the Justice Party’s presidential candidate and chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Party Committee, emphasized in an interview with Asia Economy on the 6th that ‘Hwang Soon-sik, born in ’77,’ is the alternative. He said, "I will play the central role of uniting the 86 Generation, who achieved democratization and industrialization, and the MZ Generation, who despair under the ‘gold spoon theory,’" adding, "I will focus on healing the divided wounds scattered throughout society."

Chairman Hwang plans to bring polarization resolution, real estate issues, and inter-Korean peace diplomacy to the forefront as major topics in this presidential election.

Regarding the solution to the ‘income polarization’ issue, he emphasized expanding labor mobility while also advocating for basic income. He said, "We need to maintain a minimum livelihood income through a basic income of about 300,000 won per month," agreeing with Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung’s basic income proposal and discussing ways to resolve polarization. He stressed that ‘asset polarization’ cannot be resolved without addressing the current real estate problem. He proposed ‘public repurchase profit-sharing housing’ as an alternative, which involves the government acquiring multi-homeowners’ properties and converting them into public housing.

Hwang Soon-sik, Justice Party presidential primary candidate. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Along with this, he said he would revitalize redevelopment and reconstruction projects led by the private sector, while increasing supply through public sales corresponding to the additional floor area ratio. Chairman Hwang stated, "There are about 800,000 people owning five or more houses, and the government will acquire some of these and supply them as public housing." He plans to gradually expand the target to those owning three or more houses in the long term. He said, "Although it will take some time, this is a policy to be implemented step by step," adding, "It is necessary not only to supply new housing units but also to increase supply by encouraging multi-homeowners to put their properties on the market."

On the inter-Korean issue, he said he would focus on integrating the ‘divisions’ throughout society by recognizing North Korea as a state and pursuing a diplomatic policy under a ‘two-state system on the Korean Peninsula.’

He said, "We must acknowledge that South and North Korea have different systems and establish diplomatic relations and cooperation as ‘state-to-state,’ like other countries," adding, "I believe constitutional amendments are necessary for this."

Among Justice Party candidates, Chairman Hwang admits he lags behind Representative Sim Sang-jung and former leader Lee Jeong-mi in recognition but prides himself on having built political experience from the grassroots level, serving as the director of solidarity projects for the Seoul National University student council and as a member of the 5th and 6th Gwachon City Council in Gyeonggi Province. He explained that his political experience is not lacking despite being only 43 years old. He expressed his determination to prepare for next year’s presidential election by continuously questioning and seeking answers to the fundamental question of ‘why did I start politics,’ not only as a presidential candidate but also as a politician.

Hwang Soon-sik, Justice Party presidential primary candidate. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Chairman Hwang said, "In this presidential election phase, I will deliver the message that we must move toward a ‘civilization of coexistence,’" adding, "It is time to reconsider what we want to change." He emphasized, "I want to do politics that restores trust to the people who have been disappointed by the established politics that abandoned universal values, equality, and fairness for party interests."

He said, "In politics, there are times when the means are justified to achieve the ultimate goal, and in that process, the originally set goal is sometimes forgotten," expressing his ambition, "I will become the Justice Party’s representative player to seize the missed opportunity for a leap forward and to help the divided progressive politics escape from crisis."

Hwang Soon-sik, Justice Party presidential primary candidate. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He also said he would start by winning back the hearts of supporters disappointed with the Justice Party. The Justice Party took responsibility for the sexual harassment incident involving former leader Kim Jong-cheol earlier this year by not fielding candidates for the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections on April 7. However, since there was strong trust in the Justice Party, it is not easy to regain the support of those who turned away.

He diagnosed, "The apologies so far and the decision not to run candidates in the by-elections seem insufficient. Many supporters were disappointed by the Justice Party’s stance during the Cho Kuk incident and the last general election, and since then, the Justice Party has not shown itself well as an alternative to the Democratic Party." Chairman Hwang said, "The Justice Party needs to relinquish more of its vested interests as a progressive party and form coalitions that can demonstrate greater progressive politics."

Finally, he cited a Chinese classical idiom that Representative Sim Sang-jung used in 2007 when advocating for a ‘change of representative players,’ expressing his ambition for his presidential run.

"Representative Sim said, ‘The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves forward,’ marking the change of representative players from Kwon Young-gil to Roh Hoe-chan and Sim Sang-jung. The Justice Party now needs a second Roh Hoe-chan and Sim Sang-jung. It is time for new people to step forward in the Justice Party to gain more public support."

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