The New Leadership to Rebuild the Justice Party... Jo Seong-ju, Lee Dong-young, Jung Ho-jin, and Others Declare Candidacy

Five Candidates Announcing Consecutive Candidacies on the 26th-27th
Labor Agenda Reform, Feminism Agenda Restructuring, and More

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the Justice Party has entered the candidate registration period for the next leadership election, the candidates who declared their candidacies on the 26th presented different agendas to rebuild the Justice Party.

Jo Seong-ju: "Let's Go to the Central Ground as the Third Power"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the same day, former Policy Committee Vice-Chair Jo Seong-ju held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and said, "Our progressive politics is also in a serious crisis," adding, "Feminism or the Cho Kuk incident are not the causes of the crisis. Unfortunately, progressive politics is facing a fundamental crisis because it has not escaped the old system."

He proposed the agenda, saying, "Let's break down the Justice Party and bravely go to the central ground" and "Let's become the 'third power' that changes the world."

Former Vice-Chair Jo urged a shift from 'labor flexibility' to 'industrial flexibility' and from enterprise-level bargaining to industry-level and sector-level bargaining. In the social welfare sector, he promised pension reform and overcoming the climate crisis, and regarding gender equality, he pledged to introduce a new wage system based on job re-evaluation.

At the press conference, lawmakers Jang Hye-young and Ryu Ho-jeong also declared their support.

Lee Dong-young: "I Will Move Toward Reestablishing the Third Zone"

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Following that, former Chief Spokesperson Lee Dong-young also announced his candidacy. He explained, "I will move beyond the Justice Party toward reestablishing the Third Zone," adding, "The Third Zone is the new political space where the poor and the vulnerable, who struggle with inequality and poverty hidden by the two-party monopoly politics, reside."

Lee said, "We are not a ‘small party’ fighting over a single proportional representation seat in a narrow alley but preparing a ‘broad party’ that can expand the arena and hold power to realize the dreams of ordinary citizens."

He added, "We must change from a rigid ‘activist club’ to a ‘party leading political change,’" and said, "Now, we must become a party that is clearly progressive and clearly competent."

As social agendas, he promised to redefine feminism and implement youth strategies through reorganization of the Youth Party. He also said that while maintaining the party’s 150 local committees, regional activities would be reorganized around '50 nationwide key livelihood centers.' Additionally, he pledged to implement strategic projects to protect the lives of the vulnerable, such as a 'citizen minimum income of 1 million won.'

Jung Ho-jin: "I Will Make a Party That Proves Its Value"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Chief Spokesperson Jung Ho-jin, who declared his candidacy in the afternoon, criticized, "When party members’ pride was cracked and public trust was falling, responsible leaders and politicians did not step forward," adding, "Those who avoid responsibility in silence are not qualified to be the protagonists of innovation."

He said, "To avoid being silent evaders, I initiated a party member referendum," and "We made the party member referendum, which was considered impossible, happen through the power of party members."

He declared, "I will make a party that proves its existence value, a party that shows delegated power through results, and a party with value."

To this end, he promised to create the first responsible party system by reforming the politician production system, completely overhauling the proportional representation member of the National Assembly election method, and introducing a mid-term evaluation system for proportional representatives. He also pledged to reconstruct feminist politics focusing on strengthening the representation of women in politics and to make the Justice Party a modern mass party.

Meanwhile, on the 27th, former Vice-Chair Kim Yoon-gi and former lawmaker Lee Jeong-mi are scheduled to declare their candidacies. The Justice Party will hold the candidate registration period over two days on the 27th and 28th, start election campaigns from the 29th until the 13th of next month, and plans to conduct the vote counting on the 19th.

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