Yang Hyang-ja "Even Honam says 'Why is the Democratic Party like this'... It's time for Moon government to use 'Yeo·Gyeong·Ho'"

"President Moon Jae-in Recruited Citing Challenges in 'Women, Economy, Honam'... Recent Situation Similar"
"Message Can Be Delivered Only If Women Quota Members Are Ranked as Senior, Not Junior, Supreme Council Members"
"Recent Sharp Decline in Approval Ratings Due to Neglect of 'Moonjeonokdap'... Must Make President Moon Jae-in a 'Economic President'"
"To Eradicate Sexual Misconduct, Principle of 'Election First, Explanation Later' Must Be Established"

Yang Hyang-ja, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is being interviewed on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] "Recently in Honam, people are saying, 'Why is our Democratic Party like this?' Is there any guarantee that we won't go back to four years ago?"

Yang Hyang-ja, a candidate for the Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, answered in an interview with Asia Economy on the 13th when asked about the recent reversal in approval ratings with the United Future Party, "Because we failed to protect the 'munjeonokdap' (literally 'walled rice paddies')."

Yang said, "After the general election, the party leadership thought 'we are doing well,' but there was a big gap between the public perception and internal perception," adding, "Losing the solid support base of women and Honam would be a bigger crisis than four years ago, when by-elections, the presidential election, and local elections were ahead." She continued, "This is also the biggest concern among party members," emphasizing, "To regain power, we need a message that can win back the hearts of the people. My election at the party convention, symbolizing women, the economy, and Honam, could be that message."

Regarding the role of a Supreme Council member, Yang emphasized, "What former President Kim Dae-jung aimed for and what constantly shook the Roh Moo-hyun administration was also the economy," and said, "We must make President Moon Jae-in a successful economic president." She described herself as "the only candidate for the Supreme Council with economic representation," stating, "I will play a role connecting the party, government, and the technology industry." She also stressed, "Non-party members often ask, 'What exactly is the Korean New Deal?'" and added, "I can sufficiently deliver messages in these areas." She further said, "If sexual misconduct issues are not eradicated, they could become a risk up to the presidential election," and stated, "In the process of investigating reasons, we lose the trust of the people. I will establish the principle of 'disqualification from the party after explanation and then reinstatement.'"

Yang said, "I must be elected not as a female quota Supreme Council member or a lower-ranked member but as a top-ranked member to have more opportunities to deliver these messages," adding, "As a businessperson and head of the Human Resources Development Institute, I have strengths in preparing for millions of errors and devising strategies to persuade the people." Regarding real estate policy, she said, "Our party only taxed 1%, so we failed to gain public sympathy, and since 60% of people in Korea own houses, contradictory situations arose," and added, "I will gain trust through messages that balance these points and are acceptable to the people."

Meanwhile, Yang said the reason she finally decided to run for the Supreme Council was, "People around President Moon told me to come out right after the general election. There was persuasion asking how long the Democratic Party should remain weak in the economy." She added, "The keywords when President Moon recruited me four years ago were Honam, women, and the economy," and said, "I hope party members will 'use' Yang Hyang-ja in that way."