"Show That What Can't Be Done Is Not Possible"
People Power Party Must Transform Political Philosophy Beyond Moderation
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] "The opposition party must increase its fighting power. We ourselves have become so discouraged that we fall into the frame that the opposition party has no presence, making us look pitiful. We need to boldly break free from this kind of autistic symptom and show the opposition party's fighting power."
On the 26th, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, expressed in an interview with Asia Economy the need for the opposition party to transform. Kim said, "Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned the African Bantu word ubuntu, meaning 'I am because you are,' in his negotiation group speech last September, talking about cooperation, but looking at the situation after the organization of the National Assembly, cooperation was just words."
He pointed out, "The Moon Jae-in administration stopped at the knowledge learned in the 1980s, neither studying the changing world nor tolerating change itself," and argued, "They are trapped in ideological camps, viewing the opponent as an enemy and a target for annihilation."
He said, "In the political domain, the opposition must show fighting power and demonstrate that what is not acceptable is indeed not acceptable," adding, "These things need to be shown through actions."
To this end, he emphasized the need for clarity in policy, political fighting power, and the infusion of new personnel. He said, "There should be many capable people, but only about 10 to 15 people can fight on various issues, and the rest are not accustomed to issue fighting," adding, "A solid foundation and know-how must be built."
Regarding the reforms promoted by Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, Kim gave a "passing grade." On the party's direction described as centrism, he said, "People easily use the term centrism, but from a deeper philosophical perspective, the party's constitution must fundamentally change," and argued, "It is not about moving toward the center from the current base, but the base itself must become centrist."
He cited socio-economic changes as the reason. Kim said, "While the current administration bears responsibility, the global spread of non-face-to-face interactions due to COVID-19 has created a situation where nothing?from food to manufacturing to finance?works without going through platforms," diagnosing, "Platforms have taken control of the gateways and monopolized the structure, leading to global capital concentration while the rest become subcontracted industries."
He continued, "In such a society, politics and the economy must show why they exist, and find a direction where people distribute appropriately, are motivated by success and achievement, and achieve harmony." Kim said, "The direction our party should take is not to blindly leave everything to market autonomy," and argued, "While respecting corporate autonomy, the philosophy must change toward correcting the intensifying capital concentration and economic power concentration."
Regarding this directional shift, Kim emphasized that "creative destruction, which destroys itself for creation, is necessary," calling for a 'radical change.'
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