When Asked About Low Birthrate Solutions... Kim Woong: "Stable Income and Housing," Kim Eun-hye: "Special Housing for Newlyweds and Childcare," Lee Jun-seok: "Basic Loan System"

People Power Party New Leader Candidate Debate Held

Kim Eun-hye "Even if I lose, I won't leave my district"
Kim Woong "Determination needed for the party... How much did you earn from coins?"
Lee Jun-seok "Cost to run several elections"

Kim Woong: "It is about jobs, a certain level of income, and housing issues. Under the current Democratic Party system, it is difficult to create a system that dramatically increases employment. There was a time when 90% of national housing loans were provided; policies of that scale are necessary."

Kim Eun-hye: "There needs to be a change in thinking about housing and education. The criteria for special supply for newlyweds must be well established. Arbitrary line-ups are not acceptable. The state should provide free childcare up to ages 5 to 6."

Lee Jun-seok: "If the state guarantees through a basic loan system and provides 30 to 40 million won to youth, they can secure housing, which will accelerate marriage."

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] When asked how they would respond to the low birthrate issue if they became the leader of the People Power Party, lawmakers Kim Woong, Kim Eun-hye, and former Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok answered as above.

Among the candidates who declared their intention to run for party leader, three classified as political newcomers held a debate on the 22nd at the political culture platform "House" in Yeouido, Seoul. The candidates showcased their visions while checking each other.

On that day, when Kim Eun-hye asked Kim Woong, "Will you give up your constituency even if you don't become party leader?" he replied, "Since Songpa residents would feel betrayed, it would be difficult even if I run again," but added, "It is the determination our party needs." Earlier, Kim Woong had declared that he would not run in his constituency Songpa Gap in the next general election and would hand it over to the next generation (Future Maker).

Kim Woong said, "In the Democratic Party, when there is an important election, many give up their seats and go to difficult districts," adding, "In our party, only lawmaker Kim Yong-tae has shown such an example once, and no one else has." He added, "Since no four-term or five-term lawmakers yield, even a one-year first-term lawmaker should show determination."

Kim Woong (from left), first-term lawmaker Kim Eun-hye, and former Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok, who are running for the leadership of the People Power Party, are waiting for the start of the debate at the rookie party leader candidates' invitation debate held at the political cafe 'House' in Yeouido, Seoul on May 22, 2021. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after, Kim asked former Supreme Council member Lee how much he earned from virtual currency (coins) and asked Kim Eun-hye how she would apply her experience at the Blue House.

Lee Jun-seok answered, "(How much I earned) I said on broadcast that it was enough to run several elections, but the perspective on election expenses is different," and added, "The costs I incurred in the last election are recorded with the election commission."

Kim Eun-hye said, "Not everyone can be the same. Vulnerable groups are more affected by COVID-19," adding, "Finding those people is the role of politics. I want to set a high base camp for the weak. I learned a lot at the Blue House and in companies."

When asked how to draw support from people in their 40s, known to have the lowest approval rating for the People Power Party, Kim Eun-hye said, "The 40s are the ones who most keenly feel how much our lives fall into misery if the state fails to fulfill its responsibilities. The 40s cannot tolerate incompetence the most. They know how hard it is for their daughters, sons, and mothers if I do poorly," adding, "If we do not transform into a competent party that can propose alternatives on its own, we will not be chosen."

Kim Woong said, "If we simply present policies that the 40s want, it inevitably harms the 20s. The strategic positioning of trying to win over all the 40s completely is wrong," and continued, "The 20s are sensitive to 'jobs' and 'income,' the 30s to 'housing,' the 50s to 'security,' and the 40s to 'taxes.' To capture the 40s, we must raise tax issues, and if we raise those issues and pull support rates to about 43-44%, I believe we can win the next presidential election."

Lee Jun-seok said, "The 40s are a generation actively engaged in daily life, so they are greatly affected by policies," adding, "If voters in their 40s interested in policy ask me to organize your views on security, education, and economy, I have my own thoughts, but I am not confident explaining the party's views. Our philosophy has long disappeared." He also said, "We must first establish that and then pour out policies based on it to create consistency, which makes it realistically approachable." To explain, he cited Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung as an example. Lee Jun-seok criticized, "They say giving 100,000 or 200,000 won no longer works, so now they give 10 million won. This is poverty of philosophy."