Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the government's failures in his New Year's address on the 1st and vowed victory in the general election. Lee also expressed his determination, saying, "To protect the lives of the people, the Democratic Party will become a bigger and stronger united force than ever before."
Lee listed incidents such as the Itaewon tragedy, a series of jeonse fraud cases, controversies over the investigation of a Marine's death, and rising security tensions, diagnosing that "livelihoods, the economy, peace, and democracy are all on the brink of collapse."
He stated, "Soaring prices and interest rates have brought the livelihood economy to the brink of collapse. Not only the vulnerable groups but also the youth, elderly, self-employed, and office workers are all suffering," and criticized, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration denies democracy through destroying opposition parties and ignoring the National Assembly, and is strangling the Republic of Korea with political revenge and arbitrary governance."
Lee said, "What Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party have is nothing but 'urgency and earnestness,'" adding, "We have only the 'mission' to surely win the upcoming general election to protect the people and the country." He pledged, "We will revive the hope that is even flickering out in the hearts of the people, and we will definitely win so that today's despair can become tomorrow's hope."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Below is the full text of Lee's New Year's address.
The new year 2024 has dawned.
In the new year, I hope everyone can achieve modest but fulfilling happiness according to their own wishes.
Last year, there was no state for our people.
One hundred fifty-nine young people lost their lives helplessly in Itaewon, but the state turned a blind eye.
Even when victims of jeonse fraud lost all their assets and voiced their grievances, that was all there was.
The soldier who investigated the Marine who died unjustly became the 'ringleader of collective insubordination,'
and the world's only divided country, where peace and security are paramount, is growing increasingly tense day by day.
Livelihoods, the economy, peace, and democracy are all on the brink of collapse.
We can no longer stand by the current reality, which is undergoing tremendous regression.
The Republic of Korea is a country made by its people.
Today's democracy, dazzling economic growth, and high-level culture are all results of the people's efforts. Together with the people, the Democratic Party has always stood at the center of change and reform.
On this New Year's morning, I recall the mission of history once again.
Mencius said, "There is no difference between killing a person with a sword and killing a person through bad governance."
Soaring prices and interest rates have brought the livelihood economy to the brink of collapse.
Not only the vulnerable groups but also the youth, elderly, self-employed, and office workers are all suffering.
However, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration denies democracy through destroying opposition parties and ignoring the National Assembly, and is strangling the Republic of Korea with political revenge and arbitrary governance.
Dear citizens! What Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party have is nothing but 'urgency and earnestness.'
We have only the 'mission' to surely win the upcoming general election to protect the people and the country.
We will revive the hope that is even flickering out in the hearts of the people. We will embrace the wounds and pain.
To protect the lives of the people, the Democratic Party will become a bigger and stronger united force than ever before.
The path with the people is the path toward victory.
We will definitely win so that today's despair can become tomorrow's hope.
Happy New Year.
Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
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