Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes 'Reform of the Two-Party System'... Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik Move Rapidly Toward Unification

Three Candidates Advancing to Finals Attend First Schedule Debate
No Mention of Ban on More Than Three-Term Reelection in Constituencies

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is delivering a policy presentation at the Democratic Party of Korea National Integration Political Change Promotion Committee's public debate for party leader candidates held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Chae-eun Koo and Jun-yi Park] Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for party leadership and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 29th, "Political distrust is severe under the duopoly of the two major parties. We need to create a political structure where a 'third choice' is possible," emphasizing political reform toward a multiparty system. He did not directly mention the sensitive intra-party reform issue of banning more than three consecutive terms in the same electoral district. Meanwhile, Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik, who formed an anti-Lee coalition after the party leader candidate cut-off, are accelerating their unification efforts.

At the 'Public Debate for Political Reform' held by the National Integration Political Change Promotion Committee at the National Assembly that day, Lee said, "The problem with the duopoly system is that instead of 'healthy competition,' politicians wait for the opponent's failure, obstruct progress, and fail to achieve results." He added, "Ultimately, politics tends to move in a negative direction rather than a positive one, causing only political distrust among the people."

Earlier, Lee, along with Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and co-chair of the Democratic Party's Political Change Promotion Committee, announced a 'Political Change Declaration' that included ▲ introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system ▲ prohibition of more than three consecutive terms for members of the National Assembly ▲ abolition of parliamentary immunity ▲ introduction of a recall system for lawmakers. Lee's policy speech that day was interpreted as supporting the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system to enable a multiparty system. Regarding the intra-party contentious issue of banning more than three consecutive terms in the same district, it was interpreted that Lee avoided direct mention due to anticipated opposition within the party.

Lee said, "In a two-party system, opportunities come unless you make a special mistake, and that itself is vested interest," adding, "We must innovate within the people and maximize the authority granted by the people; that is the path we must take." He especially emphasized, "As a first-term party leader candidate, I, Lee Jae-myung, will innovate the Yeouido politics centered on the two major parties and create proper politics and a proper National Assembly that aligns with popular sovereignty."

On the 29th, Kang Hoon-sik, Park Yong-jin, and Lee Jae-myung, candidates for the Democratic Party leader, pledged fair elections at the Democratic Party leader and Supreme Council member candidates' fair election practice agreement ceremony held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik, who formed an anti-Lee coalition after the party leader cut-off, are rapidly advancing discussions on the timing, method, and candidate for unification. Park set the unification deadline as August 2nd, while Kang claimed that unifying under himself would have the most impact.

Park said on a radio show that day regarding the unification deadline, "The first party member vote will be held on August 3rd in Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk (debate)," adding, "It would be best if the unification result comes out before the selection."

Kang argued that unifying under himself would be "the most impactful unification." He elaborated, "Park ran in the last presidential election, so he has high name recognition. Such unification would have no excitement or inspiration and would just be described as 'a big person swallowing a smaller person.'"

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