Democracy, Peace, and Justice Banner 'Minju Pyeonghwa Plaza' Launches on 12th with 15,000 Founders

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The 'Democratic Peace Plaza,' which advocates democracy, peace, and fairness, is launching.

The Democratic Peace Plaza announced on the 11th that it will hold its launching ceremony on the 12th at the Small Theater of the Sangam Research Center at Seoul Media Graduate School in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (KGIT Center 4th floor). Following the launching ceremony, the Democratic Peace Plaza will also hold a 'Policy Talk Show for Realizing the Basic Housing Rights of the Youth Generation' on the same day.

The Democratic Peace Plaza is co-led by Cho Jung-sik, a five-term policy expert and member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Jong-seok, former Minister of Unification under the Participatory Government. Approximately 15,000 founders, including members of the National Assembly, politicians, and figures from various sectors, are participating as initiators.

The event will be held as an online inaugural meeting with only about 50 representatives of the founders attending, in accordance with social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The founders include current Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers such as Cho Jung-sik, Kim Sung-hwan, Kim Yoon-duk, Kang Jun-hyun, Moon Jung-bok, Min Hyung-bae, Park Sung-jun, Lee Dong-joo, Lee Soo-jin (Dongjak), Lee Soo-jin (Proportional), Lee Hae-sik, Lee Hyung-seok, Lim Oh-kyung, Jang Kyung-tae, Jeon Yong-gi, Jung Il-young, Choi Hye-young, and Hong Jung-min; former National Assembly members Kim Hyun-kwon, Jung Eun-hye, Hong Mi-young; 22 regional committee heads outside the National Assembly; and numerous local council members from city and provincial assemblies.

Also joining as founders are former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok, former co-leader of the Together Citizens' Party Woo Hee-jong, writer Hwang Sok-yong, former Seoul Superintendent of Education Kwak No-hyun, former commander of the Army Armored Training Brigade Choi Hwa-sik, former Busan Police Chief Lee Sang-sik, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Social Innovation Ha Seung-chang, former Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs Kim Woo-young, Chairman of the Broadcasting Content Promotion Foundation Jung Sang-mo, Sewol Ferry Special Investigation Committee member Kwon Young-bin, Shinhan University President Kang Sung-jong, former professional boxing world champion Yoo Myung-woo, former national football player Lee Jung-soo, film director Cho Jung-rae, and comedians Noh Jeong-ryeol and Seo Seung-man.

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader, former Minister of the Interior and Safety Heo Seong-gwan, and writer Hwang Sok-yong congratulated the launch via video, while Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, will participate directly in the policy talk show to share his vision on the basic housing rights of youth.

Cho Jung-sik, elected as co-representative, expressed in a pre-distributed greeting, "The Democratic Peace Plaza will do its utmost to establish itself as a platform for the progressive camp to realize people-centered political innovation, peace, and fairness."

Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok, also a co-representative, promised, "We will strive to realize a fair and equal democratic society that guarantees a better life for the people," adding, "We will work to advance the peace on the Korean Peninsula that we have pursued, hastening the day when peace between North and South brings economic and cultural prosperity to our people and the entire nation."

After the launching ceremony, the Democratic Peace Plaza plans to expand its presence nationwide by sequentially launching regional Democratic Peace Plazas by city and province.

Meanwhile, the 'Policy Talk Show for Realizing the Basic Housing Rights of the Youth Generation,' in which Governor Lee Jae-myung participates, is the first topic of the policy forum addressing important issues in our society hosted by the Democratic Peace Plaza.

The talk show, under the theme 'Fantasy Illuminating Youth Daily Life,' will listen to the housing realities of young people and seek practical policies to realize the basic housing rights of the 2030 youth generation. Governor Lee Jae-myung, who will deliver the opening remarks, is expected to share the pain of youth housing poverty and propose policy solutions.

The talk show panel includes Jeon Yong-gi, member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea; Lee Heon-wook, president of Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corporation; Kwon Soon-hyung, director of the Institute for Opening a New Society; Lee Han-sol, chairman of the Korea Social Housing Association; and one general youth representative, who will engage in a discussion on youth housing rights for about an hour.