New Year's Press Conference Held at the National Assembly
"Electoral System Still Under Review"
"Free University Education Plan Also Being Considered"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 19th regarding the April general election, "I think this election will be very difficult for the Democratic Party," adding, "The goal is to become the first party, and if we raise the target to the maximum, it would be to secure 151 seats."
At a New Year's press conference held at the National Assembly that day, Lee expressed his determination regarding victory in the general election, saying, "I believe it is a serious situation where a lot of effort is required to make it possible," and "Whether it is candidate nomination or the election itself, we will do our best with a humble attitude and a desperate mindset."
When asked about ways to win the votes of the centrist voters, who are expected to decide the outcome of the election, he said, "Those who are called centrists do not think of themselves as being in the middle," and added, "The middle group is not ambiguous but the most rational decision-makers. If the policies we propose are seen as feasible from a rational perspective, and the candidates we present are individuals who can fulfill the roles desired by the people, and if they believe that through these candidates we can improve our lives, then I think we can gain the support of those called centrists."
Regarding the election system, which has not yet been finalized even with 70 days remaining until the election, he said, "Many people are interested and there may be conflicting interests, so we are carefully gathering opinions," and added, "In the short time remaining, there will be opportunities to speak frankly about this issue and have discussions."
In response to demands for the formation of an integrated party election committee, Lee replied, "Of course." He said, "Elections must be based on unity and achieved through broad integration and solidarity to persuade and gain the consent of the people," and added, "Since political parties fundamentally assume differences in members' opinions, the election committee inevitably must move toward integration." Regarding conflicts over candidate nominations, he said, "We will try to minimize conflicts as much as possible, but ultimately this process is also competition and involves conflicts, so conflicts cannot be completely avoided. However, there is a difference between unreasonable conflicts and inevitable conflicts," and added, "I believe our nomination committee will proceed rationally according to the system, meeting the expectations and standards of the people."
Lee, who was recently a victim of a stabbing attack, emphasized in response to reporters' questions about ways to end polarized politics, "The first starting point for change is for those in power responsible for integration to fulfill their responsibility for integration," and stressed, "We must recognize the other side, restrain our own desires and power, and exercise the given authority fairly for everyone." He continued, "Because conflicts arise from conflicting interests, even if one secretly holds a knife, one must still compromise and engage in dialogue, so even the same words must be spoken gently," and said, "We ourselves must try to change even a little so that the other side can also take us as a model."
At this occasion, he also subtly revealed the aftereffects he has been experiencing since the stabbing attack. Lee said, "When I change clothes, the scar on my neck reflected in the mirror feels terribly vivid," and added, "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been wearing a dress shirt collar; such thoughts might be a kind of trauma." Regarding the attacker, he said, "Political terrorism has been seen throughout history, but it is often the result of the overall social atmosphere or the desires of specific groups," and added, "If that person had a personal grudge against me, would he have spent a year sharpening a knife and making a sheath in broad daylight, practicing and risking everything to stab me precisely in the neck? I feel truly sorry for that person."
In his prepared opening remarks that day, Lee proposed, "Based on the principle of universal birth support, I propose a 'birth basic income' that includes a lump-sum divided payment method," and emphasized, "If necessary, we must also create universal support measures to an excessive degree, including all educational expenses such as university tuition." Regarding this, he said in response to reporters' questions, "The national community must fundamentally take responsibility for the burden of childbirth, child-rearing, and education so that parents who have children do not think, 'Why should I bear such a huge burden to have and raise a child?'. Also, accordingly, significantly reducing the burden on parents is the fundamental way," and added, "By 'excessive,' I mean first gradually lowering private university tuition fees to the level of public universities, as well as strengthening support for education, and in the long term, considering making university education free by sharing the burden of educational expenses among everyone."
He emphasized a change in perspective regarding the birth basic income. Lee said, "Currently, the thinking is parent-centered, aiming to reduce the burden on parents raising children," and proposed, "To move beyond this debate, let's focus on newborns, based on the newborns themselves."
Meanwhile, regarding a series of provocations recently carried out by North Korea, Lee said, "There has never been a time when inter-Korean relations were easy, but the current situation where the people worry about war is clearly abnormal," and criticized, "The 'bold initiative' announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol at his inauguration is ultimately turning into a 'huge time bomb' hanging over the heads of all the people." He particularly mentioned the 'North wind incident' and the 'gunpowder incident,' arguing, "If they are trying a war game at the expense of the lives of the people for political gain, they must stop immediately."
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