[Interview with Yeo Jeondae] Four Youth Leaders Who Overcame the Highest Competition Rate, '4 People 4 Colors'

Candidates Kim Garam, Kim Jeongsik, Lee Giin, Jang Yechan
4 Unique Competitiveness and Promises
Conflicting Interpretations of 'Jeonda Overheating'

The most fiercely contested position at the People Power Party's March 8 party convention is the youth supreme council member. Due to the proliferation of candidates, an unprecedented cut-off was conducted. Out of 11 preliminary candidates, only 4 advanced to the main election. Ahead of the convention on the 8th, we examined the '4 candidates with 4 different strengths.'

Honam Conservative Candidate Kim Garam: "Youth policies solely for youth always fail"

Kim Garam, candidate for the Youth Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Candidate Kim Garam emphasized his dual identity as a 'Honam conservative' and a young entrepreneur. Kim said, "I am an irreplaceable candidate. The essence of the youth supreme council member is to represent the voices of local party members and to express different perspectives on the same issues from a youth standpoint." He added, "I am the only candidate who has been active in the provinces for over 10 years and have experience leading youth organizations."

He viewed the key task for next year's general election strategy as 'properly understanding the hearts of the youth.' Kim explained, "For example, in the provinces, there is chaos because they cannot find workers, while in Seoul, there is chaos because people cannot find jobs. At this time, one should not think 'youth are bad because they don't want to do hard work.' Youth want to work at companies where welfare and other benefits are somewhat established."

He continued, "Also, youth policies solely for youth always fail. They must also benefit companies and society," proposing the employment of foreign workers. Kim suggested that allowing companies to freely hire foreign workers and having the state train youth as managers to oversee them could be a viable solution.

Candidate Lee Giin from Former Representative Lee Jun-seok's Camp: "Establish a Metropolitan Area Nomination Committee"

Lee Gi-in, the People's Power Party's top youth candidate. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Candidate Lee Giin, one of the 'Cheon-A-Yong-In' (Cheon Haram, Heo Eun-ah, Kim Yong-tae, Lee Giin) reform quartet who all passed the cut-off and attracted attention, highlighted his strength as a ninth-year local council member. He said, "I am the only candidate from local council background," adding, "This applies to proposing regional pledges and presenting issues that residents directly feel, which is know-how I have accumulated over nine years as a local council member."

As a key pledge, he stated, "Regional pledges should be achieved commonly without prioritization," but also insisted, "A separate nomination management committee for the metropolitan area must be established." He argued, "When Saenuri Party, United Future Party, and Liberty Korea Party selected metropolitan area candidates, people from other regions handled nominations. Now, people who understand metropolitan public sentiment well should come and work to achieve a majority (of seats)."

Regarding concerns that the party convention overheated due to negative exchanges between pro- and anti-Yoon factions, he directly criticized candidate Kim Ki-hyun for the Ulsan land speculation issue. Lee said, "The concern about the convention becoming chaotic is due to Ulsan land speculation," adding, "Both the party leader and supreme council member elections are being dragged into confusion by focusing on one issue. As a local council member, I reviewed minutes from Ulsan City Council and Ulsan County Council and found that proper investigations were not conducted." He pointed out, "If they do not take responsibility themselves, suspicions will become chaotic and the convention will become even darker."

Candidate Kim Jeongsik from Conservative Organizations: "Active in Creating a Platform During the Conservative Collapse"

Kim Jeong-sik, candidate for the Youth Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Candidate Kim Jeongsik became known in 2019 when he was sued for insult by former President Moon Jae-in. Leading the conservative-leaning civic group Turning Point, Kim cited his 'headfirst spirit' as his competitive edge. He said, "Many are excellent, but if they have operated on an established platform, I am someone who has tried something new even on a bare ground and am confident in doing so. During the conservative collapse period, called 'Ground Zero,' I was active in creating a platform," expressing pride.

Kim emphasized that upon entering the leadership, it is urgent to set clear agendas and directions. He said, "Slogans are not just made during elections. At this point, there is no problem presentation about where South Korea should head."

He stressed the importance of agenda preemption for the general election as well. Kim said, "For example, I think former representative Lee Jun-seok played a role in areas like the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination and feminism," adding, "In the past, people automatically considered those in unfortunate situations as the weak and valued their voices, but now people have started to share whether their arguments are logically consistent and in the public interest." He said, "There is one year left until the election, and we need to set a macro agenda to push forward from now."

Candidate Jang Ye-chan: "Lee Jun-seok Faction Candidates Are Losing Uncoolly"

Jang Ye-chan, candidate for the Youth Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Born in 1988, the youngest candidate Jang Ye-chan has been actively engaged in political commentary in the media and served as head of the Youth Communication TF at the transition team this year. Jang expressed confidence, saying, "I have competitiveness in 'air warfare.' To help candidates in the general election, the leadership must conduct aerial bombardment, and this is not something an inexperienced person can do."

If he enters the leadership as a youth supreme council member, his goal is to create a 'Youth Party-Government Cooperation Council.' He said, "There are youth aides in ministries and a youth team in the presidential office, so all conditions are met. If the high-level party-government deals with the real economy, the youth party-government will bring up opinions from local youth party members as agenda items." He predicted, "If that happens, local youth party members will also feel the fulfillment of party life."

Jang criticized the so-called 'Lee Jun-seok faction' candidates as the cause of the convention's confusion. He said, "As a commentator, I see that winning elections is important, but losing gracefully is also important. Regardless of working hard and doing one's best, if one has excessive greed, they lose uncoolly and get ruined." He added, "This applies to youth supreme council members as well; it seems Lee Jun-seok faction candidates are losing uncoolly." He continued, "Rather than planning for the future in the election, the simplistic mindset of 'I will stain the pro-Yoon candidate who made me angry' overheated the convention and led to negativity. They will be held ultimately responsible by the results."