Kim Dong-yeon Press Conference "President Yoon, Take the Path of a President, Not a Prosecutor"... Appeals for Livelihood and Political Restoration

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon held an emergency press conference on the 9th, urging the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to break away from a prosecution-dominated state and power-driven economy. He also called for a major shift to a private sector-led innovative economy and government-centered social investment. Furthermore, he demanded an end to unilateral state governance and the life-or-death style of relations between the ruling and opposition parties.

Governor Kim also appealed to the Democratic Party of Korea, asking it to establish itself as a policy-oriented party by cooperating where necessary as the main opposition party in the National Assembly, while criticizing what is wrong.

At the press conference, Governor Kim questioned, "One year ago today, we voted expecting change, but what hope remains now?" and criticized, "The economy has worsened, the crisis has deepened, and politics has become more vicious."

He added, "There is no more time to waste," and said, "I stand here with a sense of urgency that if the current state governance approach and the present ruling-opposition relationship are not changed, we will reach an irreversible situation."

He then proposed three measures to overcome the current crisis: ▲ breaking away from a prosecution-dominated state and power-driven economy ▲ a major shift in economic policy to a private sector-led innovative economy and government-centered social investment ▲ ending unilateral state governance and the life-or-death style of ruling and opposition party relations.

Governor Kim first lamented, "How long must we live in a world where prosecution investigations dominate the front pages of the news? Even in Gyeonggi Province, since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, we have undergone thirteen raids, paralyzing provincial administration aimed at public welfare."

He particularly pointed out, "As prosecution-recommended and prosecution-verified former prosecutors flood key government positions inside and outside the administration, including the economy, the term 'power-driven economy' has emerged beyond 'bureaucratic economy.' Authoritarian management and supervision have become routine, with the president giving orders and power institutions such as the prosecution and police intervening in areas ranging from prices, finance, to labor-management relations."

He urged, "We must stop state governance relying on power institutions, put down the wielded sword, and heal the wounds of the people. The president must now walk the 'path of the president,' not that of a prosecutor."

Governor Kim also proposed a major shift to a private sector-led innovative economy and government-centered social investment.

He emphasized, "Although the current administration verbally advocates a private sector-led economy, interference in economic, industrial, and corporate activities is increasing, while the government's role in social safety nets and welfare is significantly shrinking. To revive the livelihoods of ordinary people and the regional economy, we must expand local currency, credit enhancement, and financial support."

Moreover, he insisted, "We must weave a dense social safety net for vulnerable groups who suffer the earliest and greatest pain during crises. Through a major policy shift, we must save livelihoods and overcome the economic crisis by following the 'path of the people.'"

Governor Kim also stated, "No economic policy can succeed if the government or ruling party pushes it unilaterally. Labor, pension, and education reforms promoted by the government cannot advance even a step without bipartisan agreement. Therefore, the ruling party should not only look to the president but also engage in dialogue with the opposition, labor unions, and economic actors to build social consensus."

Furthermore, he urged, "The newly elected ruling party leader yesterday should step forward without being bound by formality or procedure and create a dialogue platform between the president and the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties." He proposed the establishment of a "National Livelihood and Economic Council" involving all economic actors, including ruling and opposition parties, government, businesses, labor, and local governments, for social compromise.

Finally, Governor Kim appealed to the Democratic Party of Korea.

He stressed, "The crisis now is greater than when we lost the presidential election and the administration a year ago. However, more serious than the Democratic Party's crisis is the people's crisis. To overcome this, the party must compete with the government and ruling party through policies and focus its capabilities on overcoming the livelihood and economic crises."

He particularly urged, "We must instill hope in businesses, households, and markets. As the main opposition party in the National Assembly, cooperate where necessary and criticize what is wrong, standing tall as a policy-oriented party."