Yu Uidong: "Floor Leader's Role is to Maximize Lawmakers' Capabilities... Ddaraowa-style Leadership Does Not Work" (Comprehensive)

People Power Party Floor Leader Candidate Relay Interview ④ Representative Yu Eui-dong
Ruling Party's Forced Appointment of Judiciary Committee Chair Lacks Sincerity for Dialogue
If Elected Floor Leader, Yu Eui-dong's Victory Will Signal Party Change

Yu Uidong, member of the People Power Party./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] "The role of the floor leader is to support the individual capabilities of the members of the National Assembly to be maximized, not to lead them."

Yoo Ui-dong, a member of the People Power Party who challenged the floor leader election, recently said in an interview with Asia Economy, "The 'follow me' style because the floor leader, who is the commander of the floor, decided something does not work for first-term lawmakers who entered the 21st National Assembly." He expressed his ambition to establish horizontal leadership between the floor leadership and the members, saying, "The strategies presented by the floor leader should be challenged with 'right, wrong, needs improvement,' and the direction should be adjusted accordingly."

He also revealed a different perspective from other candidates regarding the distribution of standing committee chairmanships in the National Assembly. Yoo said, "Even if we receive all 18 standing committee chairmanships, if the Democratic Party of Korea has no intention to engage in dialogue, the chairmanships will all be used as a frame for obstruction," adding, "The key is not the number of chairmanships but whether there is sincerity as a dialogue partner in national governance." Yoo viewed the issue of the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as a touchstone to gauge the ruling party's sincerity in dialogue. He warned, "If the ruling party unilaterally holds the election for the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee the day before the election for the floor leader of the main opposition party (the 29th), it is a clear signal that they do not recognize us as political partners."

Yoo said that if he is elected as floor leader, that itself will be a new message. He stated, "Our party is misunderstood and prejudged as being biased to one side, and dispelling this is crucial," adding, "There are ways to send messages, but a faster way is to change the messenger." Through this, he explained, it will be possible to attribute meanings such as 'People Power Party's brave challenge,' 'expression of urgency for presidential election victory,' and 'choice of change and reform.'

He cited value expansion, generational expansion, and regional expansion as specific methods of change. He believes that value expansion should continue the changes so far, such as accompanying the underprivileged and approaches to environmental policies, and regional expansion should include accompanying Honam.

Especially regarding generational expansion, he said, "We need to understand what the 2030 generation thinks and what they want," and insisted, "We must listen to their stories, accumulate them, and database them to use as policy and legislative materials." He said, "During the campaign for the April 7 by-election, young people climbed onto our campaign vehicle and poured out their anxieties, complaints, and criticisms of the current government's failures, but listening to these voices is not only necessary during elections."

Specifically, he explained, "If the standard number of clothing sizes for our parents' generation was five, now it is ten, and for children, it is about fifty," adding, "When you know the body shape of each person, you can make well-fitting clothes. Similarly, to understand the thoughts of young people, it is necessary to create a database."