Lee Nak-yeon "A Government with Ability and Experience is Needed, Democratic Party Must Take Charge of State Affairs" (Update)

Joined as the General Election Committee Chair of the Democratic Party
"Gathering all capabilities and sincerity to appeal for public support... We will win the presidential election"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 8th, Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, joined the presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election campaign committee as the overall campaign chairman, stating, "I judged that it would be better for the country and the people if the Democratic Party takes charge of the government again," and emphasized, "I will devote all my humble strength to fulfilling my responsibility for the people and the nation."

On the same day, Lee held a central election campaign committee meeting at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "The Democratic Party and I will gather all our capabilities and sincerity to appeal for the people's support. Therefore, we will definitely win the election on March 9."

He said, "We are currently in a crisis. COVID-19 is spreading shockingly, the suffering of socially vulnerable groups is becoming unbearable, society is changing cruelly, and the international order will also be harshly reorganized," adding, "A government with ability and experience is needed in this crisis," and "I believe that the Democratic Party is still the party with such ability and experience."

He also appealed, "There have been many instances where the Democratic Party did not meet the people's expectations. We will fill the gaps and correct the mistakes," and "I will make those mistakes serve as medicine instead." He asked the members of the Democratic Party to be mindful of their words and actions to help gain the people's trust. Lee said, "Elections are a sensitive competition to gain the people's trust. I hope everyone exercises extreme restraint to avoid any behavior that would lose the people's trust."

Earlier, Woo Sang-ho, the general campaign headquarters chief of the Democratic Party, announced at a press conference held the day before, "Former leader Lee accepted the earnest request of the party's election commission and decided to take on the role of overall campaign chairman." According to political circles, Lee had been asked to take a leading role since the campaign committee's launch in November last year. However, as support rates stagnated with about a month left until the election, he was asked again to provide full support.

With Lee's joining, the Democratic Party expects to ease concerns not only about securing support in the Honam region for candidate Lee but also about gaining support from the 'pro-Moon but anti-Lee' faction, who support President Moon Jae-in but not candidate Lee. Lee served as the first Prime Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration and received strong support from the pro-Moon faction during the primary process. On the same day, Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the meeting, "With Chairman Lee stepping up, I am confident that this will be the strongest campaign committee in history, a humble campaign committee that meets the people's expectations, and one that will be loved by many people."

Meanwhile, candidate Lee has been attempting to broaden his base by meeting conservative elders such as former chairman Kim Jong-in on the 6th, former lawmaker Lee Sang-don on the 7th, and former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-jun. Additionally, the campaign poster slogan has been decided as "A Strong Leader in Crisis, a Competent Economic President."

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