Park Ji-hyun "Decided to Run for Party Leader... Achieving 'Innovation Plan' Is the Way to Take Responsibility"

Announces Candidacy Decision in Media Interview
"Not Pro-Myeong Nor Pro-Myeong, Let's Create a People's Livelihood Party"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former co-chair of the Democratic Party's emergency committee, Park Ji-hyun, announced on the 2nd that "I have decided to run for party leader."

In an interview with MBC on the same day, former Chair Park said, "This is the first time I am revealing this decision. I am expressing my determination here to make the Democratic Party once again a party for the people and one that listens to the voices of the youth."

However, she explained, "To run in the party leader election, one must have been a party member for more than six months. But I have not been a party member for six months yet. Therefore, I understand that my candidacy will be a matter for discussion by our party's emergency committee and party affairs committee."

Regarding the background of her decision to run, she said, "Many of our party members have expressed concerns that if Representative Lee Jae-myung becomes party leader, factional conflicts within our party will worsen, and there are also voices raising worries about a party split. I share those concerns. Given that Representative Lee is currently entangled in various investigations, it is likely that the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the People Power Party will attempt political retaliation, and our party will be preoccupied with defense," she pointed out.

On the responsibility for the failure in the local elections, she said, "I also bear responsibility, of course," and added, "I believe the clear way to take responsibility is for me to become party leader and carry out the 'Park Ji-hyun’s Five Major Innovation Plans' that I have spoken about. Fulfilling those reform plans is taking responsibility to the end."

Regarding the '97 Group' within the party preparing to run, she said, "I think it is truly a good thing that they have shown the courage to change the party," but criticized, "However, except for Representative Park Yong-jin, those who have declared their candidacy remained silent when I said reforms were necessary." She continued, "I wonder if the public will accept those who remained silent but now say they will become party leader and implement reforms."

When asked about her relationship with Representative Lee, she emphasized, "I am neither pro-Lee nor anti-Lee, neither pro-Moon nor anti-Moon. I am simply looking toward the people and advocating for creating a truly people-centered livelihood party that is not affiliated with any faction. That kind of party should be the Democratic Party."