Regaining Leadership of Youth Policy Lost to Lee Jun-seok's Surge

Representative Song Young-gil's Negotiation Group Speech
By-Elections as Judgment on Double Standards
Support for Small Modular Reactor Projects
Promotion of Korean Artificial Sun Project

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, officially proposed the establishment of a special minister for youth affairs in his negotiation group representative speech on the 16th. This is interpreted as a determination to regain the initiative lost to the opposition party in addressing youth issues, amid the ‘Lee Jun-seok whirlwind’ and other factors.

If President Moon Jae-in responds positively, the newly established youth minister will be responsible for preparing long-term and comprehensive youth policies. With the presidential election approaching and the youth vote, especially from the 2030 generation, becoming increasingly important, it appears that the Democratic Party and the government are expressing their intention to communicate more with young people.

Leader Song also devoted a significant portion of his speech to ‘housing price stabilization’ measures related to youth issues. He pointed to the April 7 by-election defeat as being caused by real estate issues, stating, "It was a judgment on rising housing prices, increased tax burdens, and the hypocrisy of government and ruling party officials regarding real estate." Regarding supply measures, he emphasized, "The government and the Democratic Party will continuously pursue bold supply policies close to a supply bomb by discovering additional sites," and stressed solving the problem through supply measures along with the ‘Anyone Can Have a Home’ project. On the action of recommending resignation to lawmakers suspected of real estate speculation, he said, "The leadership had to make a painful but inevitable choice to change the hypocritical Democratic Party," and urged, "We hope the People Power Party will also take sincere follow-up measures."

Regarding energy policy, he pledged to support the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project. He said, "SMRs have great potential as an effective energy means for Middle Eastern countries with many deserts or countries with significant geographical limitations," and added, "Assuming the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, it could be a useful way to supply energy to North Korea, which has many mountainous areas and lacks transmission and distribution networks." Furthermore, he announced plans to promote the ‘Korean Artificial Sun Project’ for the commercialization of nuclear fusion power, adding, "In 28 years, nuclear fusion power commercialization will become a reality." Leader Song also emphasized accelerating reforms in the media and prosecution, supporting vaccine and therapeutic development, and enacting a special semiconductor law.