Democratic Party Sets Sail for General Election... Considering 'Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Plan' (Comprehensive)

Democratic Party General Election Planning Team Launched... Lee "Must Judge Tyranny"
Also Considering Kim Eun-kyung's Reform Proposal to Strengthen 'Incumbent Penalty'
Cautious About Optimism Within Party for General Election... "People Are Out of Their Minds"

The Democratic Party's General Election Planning Team held its first meeting on the 6th and began the groundwork for the upcoming general election in earnest. As In Yohan, chairman of the People Power Party's Innovation Committee, has been increasing pressure on senior Yeongnam region lawmakers to run in challenging districts, the Democratic Party also announced that it would consider the 'Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Plan,' which strengthens penalties for incumbent lawmakers. Attention is focused on whether the high-intensity innovations of both parties will determine the outcome of next year's general election.

The Democratic Party's General Election Planning Team held its first meeting at the National Assembly on the same day and announced that it had established the 'three major concepts' as ▲a competent livelihood party ▲a party preparing for the future ▲a party that constantly innovates. In addition, four subcommittees were formed for innovation systems, public participation, future preparation, and publicity communication, and it was decided to hold regular meetings once a week until the nomination management committee is formed by the end of next month.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the first meeting of the General Election Planning Team held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Han Byung-do, a member of the General Election Planning Team and chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, told reporters immediately after the meeting, "The General Election Planning Team will establish a basic strategy for winning the general election," citing the team's roles as discovering key policies and establishing publicity strategies, monitoring election organization activities, discussing the formation of the election countermeasures committee, and expanding the appointment of women and young political newcomers.

The planning team also plans to review the election-related innovation proposals suggested by the Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Committee along with the future formation of the election campaign committee. The Innovation Committee proposed last August to expand the deduction target for lower-ranked incumbent lawmakers from the current 20% to 30%, and to apply a differentiated deduction range of 20-40%. In particular, it also urged the establishment of a 'public office ethics' category in the evaluation of incumbent lawmakers.

Han said, "We plan to set a specific time to discuss various issues proposed by the Innovation Committee, including the establishment of the public office ethics category," adding, "The discussions will be conducted independently, but once finalized, they will be reported to the party leadership." Given that theories about senior lawmakers running in challenging districts are also being discussed within the ruling party, it is interpreted that the Democratic Party is keeping open the possibility of reviewing a 'high-intensity innovation plan.'

However, regarding the 'possibility of internal opposition or the need for persuasion in accepting the innovation plan,' he cautioned against overinterpretation, saying, "It is not that we will accept it, but that the General Election Planning Team will discuss various proposals discussed by the Innovation Committee. It is a process of comprehensively judging and discussing internal situations and public expectations. The planning team will consider everything and make a sound judgment."

Regarding the 'demand for retirement of senior lawmakers' that has emerged within the party, he responded, "Of course, we plan to make efforts to discover various talents during this election process so that they can join our party in the future," and added, "We intend to discuss the contents of various claims." On the 'nomination rules,' he also left open the possibility of changes, saying, "Depending on the discussion results, some changes may be made."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is taking a commemorative photo with committee members at the 1st meeting of the General Election Planning Group held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

During the partially open first meeting, the party leadership sharpened their stance against the government and ruling party while also tightening internal discipline ahead of next year's general election.

Party leader Lee Jae-myung said, "The Democratic Party has the responsibility to make this a starting point to judge the arrogant tyranny of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and save the livelihood of people in crisis," and added, "Therefore, we will approach the general election with a desperate and humble mindset." Cho Jung-sik, secretary-general and head of the General Election Planning Team, also pledged, "Division and arrogance are the enemies the Democratic Party must most guard against," and "We will do our best to surely win together with the people."

There were also critical voices regarding the optimistic outlook for next year's general election within and outside the party. Since the government and ruling party have preempted major issues such as the stock price surge following the 'short-selling ban' and the incorporation of Gimpo City into Seoul as part of the 'Mega Seoul City,' voices warning against the party leadership's complacent response have been growing.

Lawmaker Kim Du-kwan wrote on his SNS, "There are crazy people who talk about a 'landslide victory with 200 seats' even though a crisis is approaching," and criticized, "It seems they have already forgotten that the 20-year ruling theory ended the regime in just five years." Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won also warned, "If we talk about optimism and securing 200 seats in the general election to neutralize the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the people will leave," urging, "We must be careful of intoxication, arrogance, and rude behavior."

Meanwhile, Senior Advisor Chung Dong-young recently said in a media interview, "If we sweep the metropolitan area, there is no law that we cannot get 200 seats." Lawmakers Lee Tan-hee and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk also raised optimism by mentioning the 'pan-opposition 200 seats.'

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