Kwon Youngguk: "Toward an Equal Korea... I Will Uphold the Spirit of Roh Moo-hyun"

Kwon Youngguk, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Labor Party, stated on May 23, marking the 16th anniversary of President Roh Moo-hyun's passing, "I will restore a democracy of tolerance and move toward a more equal Republic of Korea."

Kwon Youngguk, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Labor Party, is preparing for the debate at the 21st presidential election candidates' debate hosted by the National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission held at SBS Prism Tower in Mapogu, Seoul on May 18, 2025. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

In a statement released that day, Kwon said, "Today, we are experiencing a crisis of democracy caused by politics divided into two extremes. The crisis of inequality and the crisis of democracy are by no means separate issues," adding, "Politics of hatred that shifts the causes of deepening inequality onto the vulnerable and minorities renders democracy meaningless and intensifies conflict and confrontation."

Kwon reflected, "A society without tolerance inevitably becomes a society of all-out confrontation, as the late President once said," and pledged, "I will uphold the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."

Kwon is the candidate selected by the Grand Alliance for Social Transformation in the Presidential Election, which is composed of the Justice Party, the Labor Party, the Green Party, and civil society organizations. Kwon, a former fired worker at Poongsan Metal, passed the bar exam in 1999 and has since worked in the labor field, including as a legal representative for laid-off workers at Ssangyong Motor. His key pledges include: ▲ electoral system reform ▲ amendment of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act ▲ a citizen minimum income of 1 million won ▲ introduction of a super-rich tax on the top 0.1 percent.

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