Lee Jae-myung: "Turning Crisis into Leap... Making Korea a Leading Nation"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 25th, as he resigned from his position as governor, "I will turn the crisis of the Republic of Korea into an opportunity for a great leap forward and make Korea a leading country admired by the whole world."

In his farewell speech, Lee listed the achievements he made as the governor of Gyeonggi Province and said, "Believing in the love for democracy and community shown by the residents and the power of collective intelligence, I will step down from the governor's office and run as the Democratic Party candidate in the 20th presidential election," emphasizing, "Just as Gyeonggi Province has become the standard of Korea, I will make Korea the standard of the world."

Lee, who was elected in the June 13, 2018 local elections, has been in office for 3 years and 4 months since July of that year, serving as the 7th popularly elected governor. After his farewell press conference on the day, Lee will conclude his governor duties with visits to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters and Suwon Southern Fire Station, presiding over an expanded executive meeting, and visiting the provincial council in the afternoon.

On his last day at work, Lee met with reporters and, regarding the ‘One Team plan’ following former leader Lee Nak-yeon's appointment as a standing advisor to the campaign, he said, "He told me it should be a dream team, not just a one team," and added, "It should go well." After Lee’s resignation and his meeting with President Moon Jae-in around the 27th, the Democratic Party will officially enter the ‘presidential race’ phase. Based on the ‘Myung-Nak meeting,’ which was finalized after various controversies including disputes over acceptance, the formation of a one team will also be actively pursued.

Two weeks after the primary ended, former leader Lee and candidate Lee met and agreed to unite their efforts for regime continuation. Former leader Lee accepted the request to become a standing advisor to Lee’s election campaign, and Lee agreed to incorporate some of the new welfare system proposals put forward by Lee into his pledges. Inside and outside the Democratic Party, preparations to refine pledges and revise related legislation to showcase a ‘sample of the next Lee Jae-myung government’ are expected to accelerate.

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