[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader candidate who visited Gwangju, promised to "build a competent and strong Democratic Party, a winning Democratic Party." Park Yong-jin, another DPK leader candidate, pledged to "break away from the politics of double standards."
At the joint speech event for DPK leader and Supreme Council candidates held on the 21st at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, both candidates appealed that they are the right persons to reform the Democratic Party by emphasizing the spirit of Gwangju.
Candidate Lee said, "Gwangju is my social mother," adding, "Out of a sense of debt to Gwangju, I chose the path of a human rights lawyer instead of a judge or prosecutor, and that is how the current Lee Jae-myung was born." He stated, "The Gwangju spirit I learned is reform," and promised, "I will surely take full responsibility for nationalizing the Democratic Party and ensuring victory in the next general and presidential elections to meet the great expectations and trust of Gwangju citizens."
In particular, Candidate Lee said, "I will build a rational yet strong Democratic Party," and added, "I will exercise the authority entrusted by the people decisively and to the maximum extent without hesitation." He said, "I will actively cooperate if it is necessary for the livelihood of the people and the nation, but I will strongly oppose the ruling party’s arrogance and regression."
Candidate Park began his speech by sharing an anecdote about visiting Gwangju during his university days to attend the launch ceremony of the National Council of Student Representatives (Jeondaehyeop). He said, "We talk about the ruthlessness of the Yoon Seok-youl government, but the worst kind of ruthlessness is trying to overturn the intent of legal amendments through presidential decrees," adding, "We passed the prosecution reform bill in accordance with the will of the people, but Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and the president are trying to nullify it all through presidential decrees." Candidate Park called this a "challenge to democracy," "an act of intimidation against the people," and "an unacceptable anti-republic attitude," urging, "Let’s fight together."
Regarding changes in the Democratic Party, Candidate Park said, "We must start again from the place where we fell and disappointed the people," promising, "I will break away from the politics of double standards." He stated, "I will lead a party that keeps its promises. I will break away from a weak party that is swayed by toxic fandom," and declared, "I will break away from politics that rely on factional conflicts." Candidate Park concluded, "I will break away from the weaknesses within us and return to the Democratic Party that the people applauded and expected."
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