Lee Jae-myung "Strong Democratic Party... Great Harmony"
Park Yong-jin "Democratic Party Will Gain Public Support to Properly Confront"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The next leadership candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea appealed for support at a joint speech meeting held on the 20th in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, ahead of the August 28 party convention. Candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasized moving forward as a winning party against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's '3 Nos (incompetence, irresponsibility, no measures),' while candidate Park Yong-jin focused on checking Lee by pointing out controversies over the 'Article 80 amendment' and issues with hardline fandoms.
On the afternoon of the same day, candidate Lee said at the Democratic Party Jeonbuk regional joint speech meeting held at Jeonju Hwasan Gymnasium in Jeonbuk, "In response to the great expectations and trust of the people of Jeonbuk, I will take full responsibility for the nationwide party-building of the Democratic Party so that we can surely win the next general election and presidential election."
Candidate Lee emphasized, "Jeonbuk has been the most neglected and severely damaged region due to unbalanced growth policies," adding, "We will break away from the centralized unbalanced growth strategy and create a new leap for Jeonbuk through bold investment and support based on balanced development policies."
He also criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, saying, "They are pushing for preferential tax cuts for the super-rich and large corporations while drastically reducing support budgets for ordinary people. Eventually, they even say they will sell off national assets because of lack of money."
Candidate Lee questioned, "Who is the party leader who will make a competent, strong, and winning Democratic Party?" and appealed, "Lee Jae-myung needs an opportunity to work, not party leadership. Please entrust me with the responsibility and role to create a Democratic Party for the people, not for power."
Candidate Park Yong-jin said, "I will become a party leader who sets the basics of the Democratic Party straight and clearly," criticizing the unstable governance of the Yoon administration while pointing out the gap between the hardline fandom politics within the party and public sentiment.
Candidate Park maintained the 'Article 80, Paragraph 1' of the party constitution, which stipulates 'suspension from duties upon indictment,' but directly criticized the ongoing demands for amendment mainly from hardline party members.
Park said, "The party constitution and regulations are the foundation of our Democratic Party and a promise to the people," adding, "If we are going to flip promises and the party constitution and regulations like flipping a pancake depending on the situation, then all those many provisions of the party constitution and regulations could just be summarized in one line: 'Decided differently depending on the situation.'"
He continued, "Is that the foundation and spirit of the Democratic Party?" and emphasized, "We must reclaim the basics of the Democratic Party."
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