[Full Text] Reform New Party-Korea's Hope Merger... Yang Hyang-ja "Will Light the Way for Despairing Citizens and Vision-Lost Youth"

Reform New Party led by Representative Lee Jun-seok and Hope of Korea led by Representative Yang Hyang-ja declared their merger on the 24th.

On the same day, Representative Yang said at a press conference at the National Assembly, "The Reform New Party is Hope of Korea, and Hope of Korea is the Reform New Party," adding, "Today, we declare our merger here."

He explained, "A society without hope for tomorrow is a dead society, and we have the responsibility to ignite the eyes of despairing citizens and youth who have lost their vision," and "The Reform New Party and Hope of Korea agree on each other's vision and values."

Representative Yang said, "When I entered politics in 2016, I said we must create a society where working hard today guarantees a just reward and success," adding, "This vision of the Reform New Party, where tomorrow is more hopeful than today, aligns with my original intention."

He continued, "Hope of Korea's future vision is a nation where science and technology are at the center of national governance, a future science and technology leading country, and an advanced science and technology hegemon," emphasizing, "A society without hope for tomorrow is a dead society."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Representative Yang announced three major pledges together with the Reform New Party for the future of a science and technology hegemon nation: △ Construction of the advanced industrial belt 'K-Neom City' △ Full-cycle advanced industry talent cultivation △ Establishment of the 'Vice Minister of Science and Technology' position.

First, to create good jobs, he said, "Like competing countries such as the United States and China, the state will directly build specialized complex infrastructure, and companies will only pay usage fees. We will allocate an annual budget of over 1 trillion won for specialized complex infrastructure construction."

He also declared, "We will increase the number of advanced industry departments at key universities to meet the manpower demand of the ‘K-Neom City’ advanced belt and dramatically improve competitiveness," adding, "We will expand the research and development (R&D) budget to 6% of GDP, twice the level of advanced countries, and improve the treatment of researchers." As a symbolic measure, he mentioned the plan to establish the 'Vice Minister of Science and Technology' position.

The Reform New Party said regarding the merger, "There were no disagreements between the two sides concerning the science and technology sector, and this joint press conference marks a significant achievement," adding, "From today, the Reform New Party and Hope of Korea will work together side by side for political reform in the Republic of Korea and victory in the 22nd general election."

Yang Hyang-ja, Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee for the Launch of Korea's Hope Party, is giving a greeting speech at the Korea's Hope Party Founding Promoters' Convention held on the 26th at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Full text of Representative Yang Hyang-ja’s announcement on the future vision of the Reform New Party-Hope of Korea

Dear respected citizens, I am Yang Hyang-ja, representative of Hope of Korea. Today, together with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, I would like to present the future of a science and technology hegemon nation that we aim to build.

◇ The best welfare is jobs... Construction of ‘K-Neom City’

The welfare most desired by future generations is ‘good jobs.’ Good jobs are advanced industry jobs that will lead the future not just in 10 years, but even 100 years from now, not fading technologies. Semiconductors are a prime example. We must actively foster ‘mainstream technologies and inevitable industries’ that will lead the future.

Why can’t we realize the dream of Neom, the future vision of Mohammed bin Salman? Hope of Korea and the Reform New Party propose to build a future city led by advanced industries.

Let’s start with seven advanced industry specialized complexes in Yongin-Pyeongtaek, Cheonan-Asan, Cheongju, Saemangeum, Gumi, Pohang, and Ulsan, and seven specialized complexes for materials, parts, and equipment in Osong, Jeonju, Gwangju, Anseong, Daegu, Changwon, and Busan.

Large-scale investments by global advanced industry companies have transformed Pyeongtaek. Yongin’s potential to become the world’s semiconductor capital is limitless. Advanced industries create good jobs, and good jobs build a virtuous cycle ladder that advances regional education, transportation, medical care, culture, and welfare.

For this, rapid establishment of specialized complexes is necessary. A total of 12.9106 trillion won, including 1.3762 trillion won in national infrastructure support this year alone, is required. However, only 2.8% of the budget has been allocated.

Hope of Korea and the Reform New Party will allocate an annual budget of over 1 trillion won for specialized complex infrastructure construction, with the state directly building the infrastructure and companies only paying usage fees, like competing countries such as the United States and China.

◇ Full-cycle advanced industry talent cultivation... ‘New Hero Project’

About 300,000 advanced industry workers will be needed over the next decade, but due to the neglect of science and engineering fields since the IMF crisis, our companies have no one to hire. Meanwhile, national competitiveness is declining. Hope of Korea and the Reform New Party will elevate the advanced industry departments of key universities in the ‘K-Neom City’ region to the top in the country.

In the past, there was a ‘national science movement.’ Departments such as Electronics at Kyungpook National University, Chemistry at Chonnam National University, and Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University were fully supported by the state according to the demand of nearby industrial complexes. The talents produced there became the backbone of Korean industry.

Today, we propose the ‘New Hero Project.’ To nurture scientists who protect the nation, we will increase the number of advanced industry departments at key universities in the ‘K-Neom City’ advanced belt according to manpower demand and dramatically improve their competitiveness. We will create a society where the best science and engineering talents aspire to attend regional key universities.

To cultivate technical talent, we will also foster Meister education institutions that guarantee ‘good job’ employment. We will establish advanced academies that nurture top talents with the best instructors and practical equipment.

◇ Establishment of ‘Vice Minister of Science and Technology’... Becoming a science and technology first mover

Korea is a country that thrives on advanced industries. If youth do not dream of becoming scientists, Korea has no future.

Can global innovative companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla emerge from a country that labels scientists as criminals in a cartel and cuts budgets like a purge operation?

Hope of Korea and the Reform New Party will reverse the R&D budget cuts. Furthermore, we will expand the R&D budget to 6% of GDP, twice the level of advanced countries, and drastically improve the treatment of researchers. We will create a society where science and technology ‘hidden heroes’ are respected and where science and technology careers are the number one future aspiration.

The most symbolic measure is the establishment of the ‘Vice Minister of Science and Technology’ position. Science and technology must now be at the center of national governance. The Vice Minister of Science and Technology should become the commander leading Korea from a fast follower to a first mover and driving a paradigm shift.

With the Vice Minister of Science and Technology at the center, we will actively support large-scale future science projects like the ‘Apollo Program’ and the ‘Manhattan Project’ in Korea.

The Reform New Party’s future vision is ‘a better tomorrow than today.’ When I entered politics in 2016, I said, “We must create a society where working hard today guarantees just rewards and success. Credentials should be a source of pride, not just a conclusion.” The Reform New Party’s vision that tomorrow should be more hopeful than today aligns with my original intention.

Hope of Korea’s future vision is a ‘nation where science and technology are at the center of national governance,’ a ‘future science and technology leading country,’ and an ‘advanced science and technology hegemon.’ A society without hope for tomorrow is a dead society. We have the responsibility to ignite the eyes of despairing citizens and youth who have lost their vision. We will work together on this.

We agree on each other’s vision and values. To have ‘a better tomorrow than today,’ we must become a ‘science and technology leading country.’ The ‘Reform New Party’ is ‘Hope of Korea.’ ‘Hope of Korea’ is the ‘Reform New Party.’ Today, we declare our merger here.

To the past, thank you for your hard work. To the future, welcome. Now, let us cross over.

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