Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes Regional Development Mentioning Balanced Growth
Park Yong-jin Explains Reasons for Route Struggle Stressing Need for Democratic Party
Kang Hoon-sik Highlights a Broader, Stronger Democratic Party Through Inclusion of Lee Jae-yong and Park Yong-jin
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] In the Democratic Party's regional primary election tour in Chungcheong, Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for party leader, emphasized regional development such as the Mega City, Park Yong-jin, a candidate for party leader, advocated for a democratic Democratic Party, and Kang Hoon-sik, a candidate for party leader, stressed a broader Democratic Party.
On the day, the Democratic Party held joint rallies at the Transportation Training Center in Gongju, Chungnam, the CJB Media Center in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and Hanbat Stadium in Daejeon to appeal for support from party members.
Candidate Lee said, "Balanced national development is no longer a favor or consideration but has become a survival strategy for the Republic of Korea," adding, "This Chungcheong region is precisely where the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas can be linked to play a pivotal role in national balanced development." He emphasized, "The administrative capital is the legacy of the Democratic Party's balanced development policy. The foundation of the Chungcheong Mega City was created by the Democratic Party," and pledged, "We will inherit and further develop the achievements and results of balanced development and decentralization accomplished by Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in."
Candidate Lee appealed, "I need an opportunity to work, not party leadership," and said, "Please give me the responsibility and role to create a Democratic Party for the people, not for power."
Candidate Park emphasized the vision of a social solidarity party by citing the pardon of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and the example of a worker who developed a brain tumor while working at Samsung Electronics. He said, "As Democrats, we must fight against such unfairness and inequality," adding, "Our lives should have equal value. Our time should be equal. Being a conglomerate should not make a difference."
Although Candidate Park did not directly mention Candidate Lee, he criticized self-nomination in Gyeyang-eul and controversies over the revision of Article 80 of the party constitution. He said, "Because I love the Democratic Party, I have been urging for factional struggles for two weeks," adding, "I wanted to practice responsible politics by reflecting on what needs reflection and firmly changing what needs to be changed through solidarity and persuasion with comrades." Candidate Park said, "When changing the party constitution and platform, let's create a democratic Democratic Party that undergoes deliberation and discussion," and pointed out, "The party leader self-nominated in a safe district where the party has not lost in the past 20 years instead of a difficult district, resulting in the consecutive defeat of our competent comrades." Regarding the controversy over the revision of Article 80 of the party constitution, which suspends party positions if indicted for corruption, he appealed, "Article 80, a symbol of our party's history of fighting corruption, is about to regress to a state worse than the successor of the 'cash-for-votes' party."
Kang, who has ties to Chungcheong, said, "I want to change the fate of Chungcheong," and "I want to lead the Democratic Party as a young ruling party and change Chungcheong's fate." He mentioned the low voter turnout issue in this party convention and said, "Isn't it that people dislike the dominant theory and also dislike unconditional opposition?" adding, "If Lee Jae-myung is pushed away for this reason and Park Yong-jin is pushed away for that reason, with whom should the Democratic Party do politics? Politics is not about turning colleagues into enemies and trampling them."
Candidate Kang said, "Lee Jae-myung, who has become a target of the prosecution, will become a spear, not a shield. Park Yong-jin, who has lived like a loner, should have his path widened so he is not marginalized," adding, "A broader Democratic Party, a stronger Democratic Party?that is our hope and the politics we learned from Chungcheong." He continued, "Let the Democratic Party change and advance to change Chungcheong's fate, build a greater Democratic Party, and finally achieve victory in the general election in two years, victory in the local elections in four years, and ultimately victory in the presidential election together."
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