Kim Min-seok: "There was strong consensus on semi-proportional and integrated proportional parties... We must move toward a 'big tent for the pan-opposition camp'"

"New Party of Jo Guk and Song Young-gil? ... Should Be Judged by Values and Policies"

At the Democratic Party of Korea's caucus meeting, where the 'maintenance of the semi-proportional representation system' and the 'formation of an integrated proportional party,' a satellite party of the opposition bloc, were unanimously adopted, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok stated, "There was a very strong consensus that we made a difficult decision well."

On the 7th, Kim appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "We have had very intense discussions over a long period regarding the electoral system," adding, "However, everyone understood the purpose and the pros and cons of the system very well, and we also fully recognized that choosing one side was not easy."

Kim Min-seok, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He continued, "I am also well aware that the decision was delegated to Representative Lee Jae-myung during the process," and said, "Maintaining this (semi-proportional system) is indeed difficult and a second-best option, but for now, it is the best judgment and decision. Therefore, the atmosphere was already set before the caucus meeting, with groups of three or five gathering to unify their intentions."

Regarding Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo's remark that "it will be different from the satellite parties four years ago," Kim said, "I believe there is currently a possibility that the scope of participation will be broader."

In response to the host's question about whether they are envisioning a 'big tent' for the opposition bloc, he explained, "We think that is the right approach. Since the decision to participate is each party's own responsibility, it is difficult to speak prematurely, but the overall trend is that it is right to proceed with openness in principle."

Regarding forecasts that the new party of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk or former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil might materialize while promoting the 'integrated proportional party,' he said, "Issues concerning participating parties should be judged based on the values and policies that those parties uphold."

He emphasized, "There are separate principles, procedures, and criteria for candidate selection. Rather than saying who is allowed or not allowed now, I believe that through discussions about which value and policy groups participate, under what circumstances participation is not allowed, and what standards candidates should meet, each issue will be filtered one by one."

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