Kang Byung-won: "A Party Overwhelming the Ruling Party in Morality and Livelihood... Will Achieve Unity Beyond Pro-Moon, Pro-Myung, and 586"

"Transforming into a Party That Meets the People's Expectations"
Promises Including 'Relinquishing Party Leader's Nomination Rights'
"I am a Winner, Someone Who Knows How to Win... Will Achieve Unity and Innovation Beyond Pro-Moon, Pro-Myung, and 586"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party running as a candidate for party leader in the August Democratic Party convention, stated on the 28th during the preliminary cutoff election to select candidates for the final round, "We will transform the party into one that overwhelmingly surpasses the People Power Party in morality, livelihood, and all aspects."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During his cutoff policy presentation held at the National Assembly that day, Kang said, "Can we confidently answer the question, 'Is the Democratic Party morally superior to the People Power Party?'"

Kang promised, "If I become party leader, I will first compose the Ethics Tribunal entirely of external members." He emphasized, "I will devote all efforts to restoring morality and eradicating favoritism," adding, "I will transform our party into one that meets the expectations of the people."

He then referred to the three lease laws passed unilaterally in 2020, saying, "During the passage of the bill, we turned a deaf ear to landlords' demands to respect private property rights," and added, "If the factional logic that divides the people into 'us versus them' still exists within us, let's change it."

Regarding factional conflicts within the party, he said, "Every party convention repeats the lineup of factions," and questioned, "You might be anxious about being purged in the next general election. How should we unify the party amid divisions and conflicts over nomination rights?"

He pledged, "I will change the system so that the Central Party Committee approves the chairman and members of the Central Party Nomination Committee appointed by the party leader."

Kang emphasized, "I will return the nomination rights, which have effectively been exercised by a single party leader, back to the central committee members," adding, "Relinquishing the party leader's nomination rights aligns with the democratic path our party pursues, dismantling power monopolies and distributing power."

Finally, Kang said, "As a political newcomer, I defeated Lim Jong-seok, Chief of Staff, in the 2016 primary, and in the general election, I defeated Lee Jae-oh, a close aide of Lee Myung-bak and a five-term Saenuri Party lawmaker," stressing, "I challenged the impossible, won, and caused a stir. I am someone who has won and knows how to win."

He then addressed the central committee members, saying, "I will join you in relinquishing the party leader's nomination rights. We must restore morality and public trust, and achieve a generational change that transcends eras," adding, "I will surpass pro-Moon, pro-Myung, and the 586 generation. I will become a party leader of unity and innovation."

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