Lee Jae-myung: "Political Change Over Regime Change... Will Not Use 'Lee Jae-myung Government'" (Comprehensive)

Formation of National Unity Government... Proposal for 'National Unity Promotion Committee'
Constitutional Amendment to be Pursued Within Term
"The Two-Party Monopoly System Must Be Innovated This Time"

[Asia Economy reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Oh Jooyeon] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, declared "political change and national unity" in the heart of Myeongdong, Seoul, on the 14th, one day before the official election campaign began. He argued that what the people need now is political change and societal transformation, not a "blind" regime change, and stated, "In the giant two-party system, which can rightly be called hostile symbiosis, our Democratic Party will relinquish all vested interests it has enjoyed." Lee chose Busan as his first official election campaign schedule on the 15th.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, held a press conference declaring crisis overcoming and national unity on the 14th at the Myeongdong Arts Theater intersection in Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers.

Lee said, "(Myeongdong) is a symbol of overcoming crises and leaping forward in modern Korean history," adding, "We begin a grand journey to overcome the crisis of the Republic of Korea and achieve a new leap forward in this Myeongdong street, which was the last campaign site of presidential candidates Kim Dae-jung in 1997 and Roh Moo-hyun in 2002."

He also mentioned the formation of a "National Unity Promotion Committee (tentative name)" to realize a national unity government. Lee expressed his intention not to use the term "Lee Jae-myung government," and added that he would introduce a parliamentary recommendation system for the Prime Minister and practically guarantee constitutional powers such as the Prime Minister's authority to recommend ministers.

He promised to pursue constitutional amendments during his term. Lee said, "Instead of a comprehensive amendment that is difficult to agree on, we will sequentially pursue what is possible to agree upon," and added, "We will specify responsibility for the May 18 Democratic Movement and environmental crisis response, strengthen citizens' basic rights including economic rights, enhance local autonomy, and decentralize the powers of the imperial presidency by transferring the Board of Audit and Inspection to the National Assembly."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, held a press conference declaring crisis recovery and national unity on the 14th at the Myeongdong Arts Theater intersection in Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers.

In a subsequent Q&A session with reporters regarding his vision for a national unity government, Lee emphasized, "After this election, depending on the capabilities of all political forces capable of cooperation, we will place the necessary talents in the right places and establish a system of fair competition. We must innovate the two-party monopoly system this time."

He said, "If it becomes a people's cabinet, it will inevitably lead to a unified government, and in that case, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and ministers of each department will be able to properly exercise the powers prescribed by law, creating a rational democratic state," adding, "It is a difficult path, but one we must take." He also requested, "I ask civil society and the political world to form a political coalition or alliance in the form of a 'Unity Government Promotion Committee'."

Regarding his pledge for a four-year two-term constitutional amendment, he said, "I consider it a principle to reach agreement and handle it as early as possible in the early part of the term," and added, "If an agreement is reached, I will sufficiently reduce the presidential powers that can be given to me."

He also referred to the case where the Democratic Party created a satellite party in the last general election, saying, "I agree with former President Roh Moo-hyun's statement that winning unfairly is not truly winning," and added, "The satellite party was not right, and the two major parties did not sufficiently accommodate or concede enough for the people's voting will to be fully reflected."

Before the declaration on that day, Lee paid respects at the National Seoul National Cemetery. He said, "This is a moment to decide whether to return to the past where political revenge ran rampant or to become a true democratic country where fair competition centered on the people takes place," and added, "I will mobilize all my strength to the bottom of my soul and do my utmost."

Lee's strategy is to start in Busan, one of the key battlegrounds of this presidential election, and move along the Gyeongbu Line to capture votes. It is known that the party initially considered Honam as the first campaign site internally. However, unlike former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, Lee does not have deep ties to Busan, so he selected Busan as his "first campaign site."

The party's campaign battle will also intensify. To avoid physical contact with voters, a "drive-in" campaign using cars will be introduced, where Lee will give speeches to supporters while inside a vehicle at outdoor campaign sites. All campaign vehicles will be equipped with "AI Lee Jae-myung" to deliver community-based local pledges. Real-time campaign information will be shared through the online platform "Jaemyung's Village."

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