Lee Nak-yeon and 'One Team' Fully Activated
Final Steps to Merge with Open Democratic Party
Differentiation from People Power Party through Integration... Yoon Ho-jung Criticizes "Internal Unity Impossible, National Unity is Fiction"
Lee Jae-myung Focuses on Policy Planning
[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Jeon Jin-young] The Democratic Party of Korea is merging forces on all fronts: at the party level, through a merger with the Open Democratic Party, and at the election committee level, by incorporating Lee Nak-yeon and Chung Sye-kyun into a ‘one team’ alliance. With a stable system established, candidates can now focus solely on policy announcements, creating a well-coordinated three-pronged approach.
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after the event "Welfare State Practice Solidarity Meeting - Meeting Youth and Social Workers" held at the Korea Association of Social Workers in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
According to political circles on the 28th, the Democratic Party and the Open Democratic Party will complete the merger process by the 10th of next month. Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, said on a radio show that morning, "We will conduct party member votes on the 29th and 30th, and complete the related merger procedures by the end of the year," adding, "Since the Democratic Party has a larger internal organization, it seems they expect to finalize it around January 10." Instead of changing the party name, the Open Democratic Party will form a separate organization within Lee Jae-myung’s presidential campaign headquarters called the ‘Open Camp’ to promote political reform agendas and legislate social reform issues such as the abolition of prosecutorial investigation rights. Once the merger is complete, the Democratic Party’s seats will increase from 169 to 172.
Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
The day before, the ‘National Vision and People’s Unity Committee,’ co-chaired by former leader Lee Nak-yeon, was launched, signaling the start of a full-fledged ‘one team’ movement. The Vision Committee plans to conduct a ‘Vision Tour’ starting in Honam and traveling through various regions to gauge grassroots public sentiment.
Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party floor leader, emphasized in a morning meeting, "We have gathered personnel to overcome COVID-19 and achieve a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea." He stated, "Innovation and integration are the strongest foundations for realizing a new future vision," and criticized the People Power Party, saying, "Anyone can talk about integration during election season, but not everyone can achieve it. Claiming national unity without achieving internal unity is a fallacy." He added, "To achieve national unity, I will work with candidate Lee step by step and accumulate results," highlighting their differentiation.
That morning, candidate Lee attended the ‘Welfare State Practice Coalition Meeting’ held at the Korea Association of Social Workers in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, continuing his welfare vision. At the event, Lee said, "Welfare is not charity," but criticized, "However, the perception of welfare in our society and political circles is too low." Regarding the improvement of social workers’ working conditions, Lee emphasized, "If the same work is done, the same compensation should be paid, but additional pay should be given for instability, and more pay should be given for more difficult work," stressing the need for better treatment.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
