"Proving Ability and Performance, Aiming for Winning Nominations"
"Enormous Help from Enthusiastic Supporters"
Direct Rebuttal to the '86 Generation Retirement Theory'
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, dismissed concerns that factional nominations centered around the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction would take place as “an attempt to attack for political purposes.”
On the 31st, during a meeting with party members and supporters in Daegu, Lee said, “The goal is to nominate as many capable people as possible who can prove themselves to the public through their achievements and have the competitiveness to fight and win against opponents, and to win many seats (in the general election).”
He added, “Is it right to say that because someone is on my side, they should run even if there is a risk of losing, and because someone thinks differently from me, they shouldn’t run even if they have a high chance of winning?” He rebutted, “Did anyone believe I would do that? This is not about disbelief but about distrust.” Referring to his time as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province, he said, “If someone had the same ability, of course, I would have used our side, but if someone was more capable, I used people from the opposing camp.”
Regarding his enthusiastic supporters, Lee said, “They are an enormous help,” and added, “There seems to be a debate about the active behavior of passionate and proactive supporters these days. I believe party members can say whatever they want to party officials, and the public can say whatever they want to their representatives.” He also evaluated the actions of his supporters as “something to be encouraged,” saying, “Why criticize the people, who are the owners of the country, for directly taking an interest in politics and acting? I believe that is wrong.”
He also refuted the ‘86 Generation (those born in the 1960s and who entered university in the 1980s) retirement theory. He stated, “It is not right to exclude someone based on uniform criteria,” and added, “Politics pursues some ideals, but if it is not based on reality, it only causes conflict. In addition to responsibility and passion, as Max Weber said, a sense of balance is necessary.”
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