[Full Text] Lee Jae-myung's Policy Speech: "Humbly Acknowledge the Reality of Being Criticized for Double Standards... Will Pursue Policies Delivering Tangible Benefits to People's Livelihoods"

"A Competent Party and Leader to Turn Crisis into Opportunity"
Proposal for Weekly Policy Debates to Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol
"Empty Shell Hidden Behind Fancy Wrapping vs. Solid Core"... "Please Judge Coldly Which Party Can Change the World"

On the 28th, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "To refill the lightened wallets of the people, restore the struggling economy, and enable continuous growth, a capable party and leader who can turn crisis into opportunity are needed," adding, "The Democratic Party will transform into a more competent party for the economy and people’s livelihood."

On the same day, through an MBC policy speech in the afternoon, Candidate Lee emphasized, "Innovation starts with coldly acknowledging reality," and stressed, "We must humbly acknowledge the reality where politics has failed to meet the expectations of the people and has been criticized as hypocritical and dominated by vested interests."

He then said, "I am sorry," and "I will thoroughly reflect, return to my original intention, and start anew."

Candidate Lee stated, "We will overcome unfairness and inequality that reduce efficiency and dampen motivation, and transform the country into a hopeful nation where everyone can dream and demonstrate their passion."

Below is the full text of Lee Jae-myung’s policy speech.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Respected citizens,

I am Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The eventful year 2021 is coming to an end.

How much hardship have you endured this year.

Looking back, many people come to mind whom I am deeply grateful for and who moved me to tears.

During the ‘COVID-19 crisis’

the medical staff who silently devoted themselves and guarded the frontlines of quarantine,

small business owners and self-employed people who endured livelihood difficulties,

and the citizens who endured inconveniences and fully cooperated with the national quarantine policies,

I have never forgotten for a moment that all of you had a heart that put the safety of the community first.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 is spreading again worldwide.

Our country also faces a situation where quarantine guidelines must be strengthened.

To get out of this long tunnel of COVID-19,

everyone must endure a little longer together.

As one of those responsible for quarantine, I apologize.

The year 2021 itself, with the hardships of the people,

posed the question of what the essence of politics really is.

Recently, I met with small business owners and self-employed people who were hit hard by COVID-19 and heard many stories.

They asked for whom and for what politics exists,

and what politics is doing to solve urgent livelihood issues.

A young caf? owner, choked up, said, "I cannot afford the overdue rent and increased loans."

A travel agency owner, excluded from loss compensation and facing closure,

said he felt as if abandoned by the state, and I was truly sorry for his tears.

Disasters leave the deepest wounds on the most vulnerable.

Although the entire nation suffered during the quarantine process,

the damage to the weak in our society, such as small business owners, self-employed people, and irregular workers, was enormous.

Protecting the national community is primarily the responsibility of the state.

The sacrifices and damages borne by the people for the community

must rightfully be compensated and supported by the state.

That is justice.

This is why the whole world provided unprecedented levels of support and compensation.

However, regrettably, our country was the opposite.

During this COVID-19 crisis, our government’s support measures were the smallest among countries,

and even those measures focused more on expanding loans than direct support.

Ultimately, the state shifted its responsibility onto individuals through increased debt and sacrifice.

Through this crisis, South Korea’s household debt ratio, already the highest in the world,

has increased the most globally.

We must no longer shift the state’s responsibility onto the people.

Special sacrifices require special compensation.

At least this time, strict compliance with enhanced quarantine guidelines should be regarded as beneficial,

and full and bold support must be provided.

This is the way to comfort the suffering of the people

and revive the collapsing economy of ordinary citizens.

‘Complete compensation, not partial,’

‘fiscal support rather than financial support,’

and ‘pre-support rather than post-support’ should be the basic principles to prepare practical support measures.

Coincidentally, the opposition parties are also advocating for compensation support on the scale of 50 trillion or 100 trillion won.

In the face of disaster, there is no ruling or opposition,

and no political advantage or disadvantage.

There is no reason to delay.

There is no time to waste.

For the lives of our people who are pushed to the brink day by day,

I ask the government and opposition parties for prompt and progressive cooperation

so that necessary support can be provided immediately.

As much as COVID-19,

the real estate issue is also making our people suffer.

To our citizens who say,

"Because of soaring house prices that seem to know no bounds, the dream of owning a home has disappeared, leaving only anger,"

I cannot help but feel sorry.

Among them, what pains me most is the despair and frustration given to our youth,

who feel that no matter how much they ‘stretch their finances,’ they can never buy a home in their lifetime.

As a member of the Democratic Party government, I feel a heavy responsibility.

Reality is as important as values and ideology.

Since the market perceives a shortage of supply,

housing supply must be greatly increased.

Going forward, our Democratic Party will definitely prepare unprecedented, bold supply measures.

We will focus on reforming financial, tax, and transaction systems

so that houses can no longer be objects of speculation.

We will continue to promptly correct unreasonable real estate policies

by respecting the will of the people and the market.

Respected citizens,

The state exists for the safety and better life of its people.

Politics must revive people’s livelihood and the economy.

The public sentiment I encountered while touring the country on the “Mae-ta-bus” was much harsher and heavier than I had imagined.

An elderly person with white hair, sitting hunched on the market floor, unable to even fix their hair, trying to sell taro worth 5,000 won.

A 95-year-old grandmother who tightly held a few scorched rice candy pieces in my hand and said, "Please help us live better," brought tears to my eyes.

When a local youth asked me not to let his friends leave for Seoul,

I found it hard to find words.

As someone who has believed that the reason for politics is people’s livelihood,

I felt infinitely sorry.

Facing this harsh reality,

when asked, "Have politicians properly fulfilled their responsibilities?"

a deep reflection came over me.

That is right.

Innovation starts with coldly acknowledging reality.

We must humbly acknowledge the reality where politics has failed to meet the expectations of the people

and has been criticized as hypocritical and dominated by vested interests.

Dear citizens, I am sorry.

I was truly lacking.

I will thoroughly reflect, return to my original intention, and start anew.

For the lives of the people to change, politics must change.

We will start with changing our Democratic Party.

We will be reborn as a more competent and agile people’s party.

We will firmly become a people-first, livelihood-centered party.

We will change the world.

We will overcome unfairness and inequality that reduce efficiency and dampen motivation,

and transform the country into a hopeful nation where everyone can dream and demonstrate their passion.

What politics truly needs is to produce many small but achievable livelihood outcomes.

Therefore, the Democratic Party must be a pragmatic party that values reality and practice over lofty ideals or ideology.

Rather than grand slogans that sound good,

we must focus on achievable livelihood issues.

Because of the voices of self-employed people burdened by delivery fees,

‘Baedal Teukgeup’ (Delivery Express) was created to resolve monopolies in the delivery market

and create a win-win situation for both consumers and self-employed people.

Youth policies such as ‘Youth Basic Income,’ ‘Youth Interview Allowance,’

and ‘Military Service Youth Accident Insurance’ will be small stepping stones

for our youth generation to escape from a bleak reality.

The ‘Regulatory Sandbox Activation Support Project,’ which prevents unnecessary regulations from depriving companies of market entry opportunities,

is a good example of regulatory rationalization.

Based on a firm philosophy centered on the sovereign people

and the determination to overcome vested interests,

we must produce results and achievements together with the people in the field of life.

Our Democratic Party will also pursue policies that produce many small but achievable livelihood outcomes.

Dear citizens,

We are now in a critical crisis.

The youth generation is fighting a survival battle

inside a cramped nest.

Competition has become a war, and friends are turning into enemies.

With the world’s worst elderly poverty rate,

our seniors’ worries deepen day by day due to anxiety about old age.

Divided by region, metropolitan area, gender,

a brutal reality unfolds where people push each other out of the nest to survive.

The energy transition due to the climate crisis,

digital transformation due to the technological revolution, and

this great transition crisis starting with periodic pandemics

are unavoidable realities we face.

However, in a new era, crisis and opportunity always coexist.

We must turn the crisis of great transition into a great leap forward,

and the results must be enjoyed not by some but by all the people together.

Two strategies are needed for this.

First, fairness must be restored.

By alleviating polarization and unfairness,

and restoring fairness in resource allocation and competition,

we must increase growth potential.

Fair opportunities will enhance social efficiency

and motivate members.

This is the ‘Fair Growth Strategy.’

Second, we must turn the current era’s crisis

into an opportunity for growth and leap forward.

To compete with the US big tech companies,

Germany is focusing national efforts on industrial digital transformation with Industry 4.0, and China with ‘Made in China 2025.’

Europe will fully introduce a carbon border tax from 2026.

‘Carbon neutrality’ is already becoming the new world order.

This means that if carbon emissions are not reduced, export routes will be blocked.

In this situation, the digital new deal responding to digital transformation,

and the energy transition due to the climate crisis

are no longer matters of choice but matters of survival.

If we fall behind even a little, we will become weary followers in extreme competition,

but if we take just half a step ahead, we can lead the global economy

and open the path to economic revival.

We must turn the crises of energy transition, digital transformation, and periodic pandemics

into opportunities for growth and leap forward through strong national economic revival policies.

This is the ‘Transformative Growth Strategy.’

Only the people, only livelihood.

For the sake of livelihood, I will choose achievable half-steps over impossible ten steps.

The Democratic Party will quietly implement the ‘transformative fair growth’ policy

for the leap to a leading country.

Respected citizens,

Next year, 2022, will be a turning point deciding whether South Korea will fully enter the ranks of advanced countries,

or fall behind as a latecomer.

Whether we return to past multiple conflicts,

or move toward a future of hope and creativity will be decided.

To overcome the crisis we face,

the role of the people and the Democratic Party in producing a capable economic president and a livelihood president is important.

To refill the lightened wallets of the people,

restore the struggling economy,

and enable continuous growth,

a capable party and leader who can turn crisis into opportunity are needed.

On this occasion, I respectfully request once again to the People Power Party and candidate Yoon Seok-youl.

I propose a weekly policy debate.

It is the duty of candidates who want to become public servants

to show the people what policies can solve the problems our society faces,

and who has the capability to do so.

Citizens, please support the Democratic Party.

Between an empty shell hidden under fancy wrapping and a solid core,

it is clear what can change the world.

Not empty words, but a party that truly works for the people,

please judge coldly.

If you support us,

we will create a country where tomorrow is more hopeful than today,

a country full of hope and opportunity where youth can boldly challenge,

and we will surely repay you by making such a country.

The Democratic Party will transform into a more competent party for the economy and people’s livelihood.

We will surely take responsibility for the lives of the people and the bright future of this country.

Thank you.

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