Minju's '97 Group Generation Theory' Gains Momentum... Launching Innovation Theory Against 'Eodaemyeong'

'Yanggang Yangbak' 97 Group Continues to Announce Candidacy
"August Party Convention, Lee Jae-myung vs 97 Group Structure"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the Democratic Party of Korea prepares for its party convention in August, the '97 Group (those who entered university in the 1990s and born in the 1970s) generational theory is gaining momentum, increasing the possibility of a generational change.

On the 30th, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin held a press conference at the National Assembly and declared his candidacy for party leader, saying, "I will create a completely new Democratic Party, a completely different Democratic Party." Born in 1971, he declared, "I will build a Democratic Party that makes the hearts of young people beat," and "a party for those uninvited to advanced South Korea, many workers positioned at the bottom of the dual labor market structure, new workers not classified as laborers, and young youth."

Earlier, lawmaker Kang Byung-won, born in 1970, took the lead as a representative candidate of the 97 Group. At a press conference, he emphasized innovation, saying, "Pour new wine into new wineskins," and "Please unite your strength so that new figures can practice innovation and integration."

Lawmaker Park Joo-min and Kang Hoon-sik are also showing prominence as the 97 Group, called 'Yanggang-Yangbak' (Kang Byung-won, Kang Hoon-sik, Park Joo-min, Park Yong-jin), approaches their final decisions. It is reported that they have sought advice on running from pro-Moon Jae-in lawmakers such as Jeon Hae-cheol and Hong Young-pyo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said on a radio show, "It seems that the structure of 'Lee Jae-myung versus the 97 Group' will be formed at the party convention in August," and diagnosed, "In short, there is still strong pressure on Lee, such as 'Now is not the time for you to step forward.'" However, he also said about the 97 Group, "Lee has already been fully formed through the presidential election, and the 97 Group is just starting from the beginning," and observed, "It is not easy to row out into the ebb tide."

Lee Jae-myung, who inevitably faces a confrontation with the 97 Generation, is scheduled to attend the party lawmakers' meeting in the afternoon. A representative from Lee's side explained, "It is the first time attending a lawmakers' meeting as a first-term lawmaker," and "He plans to listen to the lawmakers' remarks without delivering any particular message."

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