[Exclusive] Hong Ik-pyo Raises "Regime Judgment Theory"... "Democratic Party Only Alternative Force"

Democratic Party Floor Leader... Negotiation Group Representative Speech
Criticism of Yoon Government's Failures... Urging 'Tolerance and Cooperation'

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized, "After two years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, democracy, including freedom of the press, has regressed, and the economy and people's livelihoods are on the brink of collapse."

In the negotiation group representative speech held at the National Assembly plenary session on the morning of the 20th, Floor Leader Hong pointed out, "The fairness and common sense promised by President Yoon Seok-yeol to the people cannot be found even in traces," and added, "Due to the arrogance and dogmatism of the government, politics has lost its function of compromise and agreement and is trapped in extreme confrontation, hatred, and hostility." This is interpreted as an intention to raise the 'regime judgment theory' 50 days before the general election.

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "The Democratic Party also bears responsibility for not meeting the support and expectations sent by the people in the past," but emphasized, "The only alternative force that can overcome the crisis currently facing the Republic of Korea is the Democratic Party." He repeatedly appealed for opposition support in the general election, saying, "If the legislature also falls to the arrogant and ruthless power, there will be no hope anymore."

He also mentioned the recent series of 'forced exit' incidents, such as a graduate being forcibly dragged out at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) graduation ceremony attended by President Yoon. Floor Leader Hong criticized, "Our people witnessed the tragic scene where a member of the National Assembly and KAIST graduates were gagged and dragged out with their limbs lifted just because they voiced their opinions to the president."

He urged cooperation toward the People Power Party, asking, "Where has the conservative economic capability that created the Miracle on the Han River gone, and where has the conservative diplomatic ability that opened the shipping routes of a trading powerhouse gone?" In addition, he proposed the need for a '3C-type partnership leader,' presenting three conditions: ▲ Cooperation ▲ Coordination ▲ Communication. Furthermore, he proposed four agendas as 'political cooperation tasks for the future': ▲ Fair economy ▲ Innovative economy ▲ Climate crisis response ▲ Low birthrate measures.

Below is the full text of the negotiation group representative speech

Let's open the future of the Republic of Korea with "Politics of Tolerance and Cooperation."

Respected and beloved citizens,

Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, senior and fellow members of the National Assembly,

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and members of the Cabinet,

I am Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The 21st National Assembly is coming to an end.

From the Moon Jae-in administration to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration,

the ruling and opposition parties have switched seats and are competing.

Thank you to all the members present here for your hard work.

I wish you success this year.

[The Meaning of the April General Election and the Democratic Party's Commitment]

Dear citizens,

The general election is now 50 days away.

After two years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration,

democracy, including freedom of the press, has regressed,

and the economy and people's livelihoods are on the brink of collapse.

Our national dignity continues to decline.

The fairness and common sense promised by President Yoon Seok-yeol to the people

cannot be found even in traces.

Due to the arrogance and dogmatism of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration,

politics has lost its function of compromise and agreement

and is trapped in extreme confrontation, hatred, and hostility.

The Democratic Party of Korea also bears responsibility for this.

In the past, we failed to meet the support and expectations sent by the people.

We humbly apologize for the shortcomings of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Dear citizens, I earnestly appeal to you.

Although we are lacking in many ways,

the only alternative force that can overcome the crisis facing the Republic of Korea

is the Democratic Party of Korea.

Please gather the strength to protect democracy and people's livelihoods.

If the legislature also falls to the arrogant and ruthless power,

the Republic of Korea will no longer be able to find hope.

Cooperation and coexistence in Korean politics will disappear.

Through the people's choice in this general election,

we will decide whether Korea moves toward the future or retreats to the past,

whether democracy is restored or regresses to authoritarianism,

whether we go toward a fair and reasonable society,

or a society where cheating and privilege prevail.

With the awakened citizens' conscience in action,

please set the Republic of Korea straight again.

The Democratic Party of Korea will change. We will do better.

To move forward with the people,

we will start politics of coexistence and cooperation, which have disappeared from Korean politics.

By gathering wisdom through communication to solve reform tasks,

we will lead politics that empower the people.

Senior and fellow members,

today, I want to talk about politics of tolerance and cooperation for the future of Korea.

On September 14, 2015,

at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) located in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana, USA,

a strange signal was detected.

Later, the LIGO-Virgo research team named it the 'first gravitational wave detection' and announced it to the world.

The discovery of gravitational waves was a groundbreaking event that instantly changed the landscape of astrophysics by providing new eyes to observe black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae.

However, there was a problem.

No one could scientifically prove all phenomena 100%,

and there were numerous conflicts and debates in interpreting a single phenomenon.

Therefore, while verifying and reaching consensus on this historic discovery, scientists left about 17,000 emails and remote meeting records.

Despite excessive workload, they adhered to democratic procedures and reached consensus amid competition,

and finally published a paper in February 2016.

The following year, three related scientists naturally received the Nobel Prize in Physics.

This story is contained in the book 'The Kiss of Gravity.'

The author, recounting the entire process of gravitational wave discovery,

states that 'the process of scientific realization is the only alternative that can serve as a beacon of collective values in a democratic society.'

He believed that through the entire process of research community inquiry, hypothesis, verification, and publication,

science not only operates in practice but also shows a consensus process that democratic society can refer to.

Science was never logically perfect, so it valued procedures and developed division of labor and cooperation.

I also found in this story

a democracy that does not miss specific values,

a democratic practice process that respects individual rights and opinions.

Perhaps democracy developed in science

is, in turn, the driving force behind the advancement of science and technology.

[Tolerance and Cooperation Needed in Our Politics Now]

Dear citizens,

Most of the people's lives are the same.

They compete while cooperating.

A baker may not easily think of a farmer while making bread,

but even if making bread just for livelihood,

it becomes a precious food that provides energy for busy mornings.

Though it seems like people are only doing their own work,

as society becomes more complex, relationships deepen.

During the COVID-19 period,

we deeply appreciated essential workers such as medical and care workers, delivery workers including couriers,

public transportation drivers, and sanitation workers.

We also realized that no one can do everything alone.

Our society has entered an era where people must complement and supplement each other's shortcomings to survive.

The boundary between important and unimportant tasks is disappearing.

In complex machinery, even a small gear is very important.

Every component is sufficiently important in its place.

Similarly, raising children is as important as managing the national budget or standing guard at the Demilitarized Zone.

Distinguishing between big and small tasks no longer makes sense.

Everyone has their own potential.

Anyone can someday do something helpful for everyone.

I believe that the kindness I show to others today

will become kindness for me tomorrow.

Local areas are not less important than the central government,

and a single part from a small or medium enterprise can determine the success of a large company's product.

Non-regular and regular workers' work all have equal value,

and cooperation between workers and employers is necessary for company development.

Husbands and wives, parents and children, grade 9 public officials and the president

must respect each other and share opinions.

It has become an era where communication and cooperation come first.

[The Need to Face Korean Politics]

Respected senior and fellow members,

Korean politics has not yet reached this path.

Our politics lacks recognition and respect for the opponent.

No matter how good the opponent's actions are, they are ignored,

and even if our actions have problems, we do not try to fix them well.

This is what the people worry about and criticize.

Politics must change now.

Politics embodies the conflicts and confrontations of a society.

I do not think conflicts and competition between ruling and opposition parties are bad.

It is natural.

However, stopping here is not politics.

Politics' noble duty and essence is to resolve conflicts and confrontations not with division and hatred,

but with compromise and agreement.

However, our politics now disappoints the people by ridiculing each other,

escalating to extremes, and closing the door to dialogue and compromise.

Democratic norms that respect different opinions and restrain power are collapsing.

If the power does not like it, instead of dialogue and debate,

it often silences voices through raids and retaliatory investigations.

Recently, our people witnessed the tragic scene where a member of the National Assembly and KAIST graduates were gagged and dragged out with their limbs lifted just because they voiced their opinions to the president.

The voices they shouted were reasonable demands such as 'Change the national policy direction' and 'Restore R&D budget.'

Yet, there has been no response or apology from the president.

Senior and fellow members present here,

can you confidently say this is the democracy of the Republic of Korea that we are so proud of?

Political scientists point out that 'the criterion distinguishing dictators and democratic leaders today is their response to criticism.'

We must face the fact that problems we ignore as someone else's issue now

may become problems for ourselves and our future soon.

We must seriously face the current crisis of democracy.

The families of the Itaewon disaster victims struggling on the streets,

the Marine Corps groups and officials demanding a special investigation on Corporal Chae,

and Marine Colonel Park Jung-hoon, who is on trial for handling matters fairly, are not someone else's issues.

However, I and the Democratic Party of Korea will not lose faith in democracy and parliamentary politics.

Believing in the great Korean people who achieved democracy,

we will vigorously oppose the ruthless, incompetent, and irresponsible power.

The Democratic Party of Korea will walk the path together with the people.

[Politics of Competition and Cooperation]

Senior and fellow members!

Despite the power's solo run and dogmatism, our politics must continue.

Now, let's compete and cooperate in what we can do well. It is the era of cooperation.

Looking at politics with eyes of cooperation and tolerance,

I am confident that politics will look different from before.

How is our politics now?

Are we really adjusting and mediating social conflicts well so that the people can eat well and live well?

Have we rather caused and provoked conflicts,

sometimes spreading political hatred and ridicule?

Let's reflect on whether we have only taken advantage of the opponent's mistakes.

Where has the conservative economic capability that created the Miracle on the Han River gone?

Where has the conservative diplomatic ability that opened the shipping routes of a trading powerhouse gone?

The military discipline now stands properly within human rights and democratic procedures.

Do you still think authoritarianism is possible?

I truly believe that if we prioritize the Korean economy and people's safety,

these are all things the conservative government and conservative party can do well.

Peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean cooperation are the same.

Think of the past conservative government that strongly promoted and succeeded in the Northern Policy.

The Northern Policy established diplomatic relations and exchanges with communist countries including the Soviet Union,

significantly reducing the threat of war with North Korea.

It was possible because it was a conservative government at the time.

Now, conservatives should show the miracle of making peace again.

We must persuade the neoconservatives and America Firsters in the U.S., who are one-sidedly hawkish,

how desperately peace on the Korean Peninsula is needed.

To improve inter-Korean relations, cooperation from Japan is also necessary.

Recently, North Korea and Japan have been seeking dialogue and improving relations.

As a party to the Korean Peninsula, we must not ignore or oppose this.

The Yoon Seok-yeol administration must join to bring North Korea to the dialogue table, even through Japan,

as a minimum responsibility for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Above all, I believe conservatives can play a decisive role in reducing internal conflicts.

Tax increases to prepare for social welfare and the future can also be well handled by conservative governments and parties.

Noblesse oblige shows the dignity, capability, and courage of Korean conservatism.

Respected conservatives, courageous conservatives, conservatives who believe in universal human values

can practically advance the Republic of Korea.

Progressives have also played an important role in our society's development.

Especially, progressives have been with the people who desire reform and justice.

They have aligned with people with diverse thoughts and demands,

cooperated, and opposed great powers.

These are very meaningful experiences.

Progressives were born to solve the hardships of the common people,

protecting the rights and lives of the weak and growing.

Progressives could do more when cooperating and communicating.

As a result, progressive governments could demonstrate more capability in resolving issues through compromise and adjustment, such as pharmaceutical separation, Korea-U.S. FTA, and win-win jobs.

The Democratic Party of Korea once made painstaking efforts to be competent in economy and security.

Leaders Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun proved this.

If conservatives are unprepared for welfare, education reform, and labor reform including social safety nets, progressives can cooperate.

If progressive policies are too advanced and cause public concern, conservatives can adjust the pace.

Even if we fight, if progressives and conservatives compete through cooperation and act as mediators,

our politics can somewhat help the path our people take.

Now, ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives,

let's open an era of competing and cooperating to give the people a little hope.

['3C-type Partnership Leader' Needed]

Respected senior and fellow members!

The place where we are today

is not made by one person's great achievement.

It is made by the power of all our people who could cooperate and unite as one.

If we face the era of tolerance and cooperation,

we can imagine what kind of leader we need.

Dictatorial solo leadership cannot harmoniously accommodate diverse demands.

Power that ignores, intimidates, and only investigates the people

cannot lead voluntary cooperation.

Dogmatism that insists only I am right cannot create cooperation where 1+1 becomes 3 or more than 10.

Now, there can be no more 'rulers.'

One-sided, benevolent power that 'bestows favors' must be sent to the museum.

We need leaders who work together so that each citizen's ability and potential

can be realized and shine.

Our leaders today must value partnership more than traditional leadership.

It is the time for 3C-type leadership.

First, Cooperation.

We must work together, not alone.

Second, Coordination.

We must coordinate the diverse demands and conflicts of a complex society.

Third, Communication.

We must listen with an open attitude, not one-sided orders.

Our people are more than qualified to have such leaders.

South Korea now plays a very important role in the global economy.

We lead not only traditional manufacturing industries like automobiles and shipbuilding,

but also advanced industries such as ICT and semiconductors.

Our K-culture, including K-pop and K-dramas,

is loved by many people worldwide.

Also, we are a nation admired worldwide for democracy through the Candlelight Revolution.

All of this was made by the great Korean people.

Tolerance and cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives

will be the starting point to produce leaders with partnership in cooperation, coordination, and communication.

I sincerely hope that the seeds of cooperation between ruling and opposition parties sown in this extraordinary session

will bloom fully in the 22nd National Assembly.

[Political Cooperation Task for the Future 1 - Fair Economy]

Dear senior and fellow members,

The first cooperation task between ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives,

is to create a fair economic order where people are respected.

Let us recall the 'life with evenings' that resonated in our society in the past.

I think there is no phrase that better expresses economic democracy, resolving polarization, and a decent life.

If we had prepared more and progressed little by little then,

our economy would not be in such difficulty now.

We are in an important period where we must read global trends, respond proactively,

and continue efforts to change our industrial structure.

We are overwhelmed by anxiety and despair that we are wasting lost time.

The Democratic Party has devoted much time and effort to correcting the tilted playing field in our society,

protecting the economically vulnerable, and establishing a fair order.

As a result, we have prevented technology theft from small and medium enterprises,

introduced punitive damages,

and enacted laws to prevent unfair practices by large-scale distribution companies.

These were efforts to realize economic democracy.

However, I worry that such efforts may now be halted under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Blaming the global economy alone for the economic downturn,

drastically cutting budgets for people's livelihoods, youth, small business policy funds, and the mother fund,

and shifting responsibility to individual survival is

the economic policy and crisis solution of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration?

Despite spending tens of trillions of won on national tasks such as housing stability, transportation infrastructure construction, balanced national development,

and creating a safe living environment, poverty and vulnerable groups are increasing,

and how can we explain the daily lives of people who feel the burden of basic living expenses such as housing and transportation costs?

Are we still unable to escape the memories of a privileged economy,

and neglecting preparation for a sustainable economy?

It is time to sincerely reflect.

Let's try again together.

The middle class and common people's lives must be stabilized.

Jobs must be stable.

Policies that directly support workers must be implemented.

The state's responsibility for housing, medical care, and education must be strengthened.

Labor flexibility requires sufficient social consensus along with expanding social safety nets.

Guaranteeing minimum wage and reducing working hours

do not kill companies but rather save them.

The competitiveness of companies in the new era

comes from a 'life with evenings.'

Based on trust in humans,

the state must step in to ensure a minimum life and dignity.

Not everyone can become rich.

But everyone can be happy.

That is why we must talk about economic democracy again.

We must return to economic policies where people cooperate and coexist,

not policies that only incite competition and desire and exhaust national capabilities.

This is the first cooperation task for the future of the Republic of Korea for you and me.

[Political Cooperation Task for the Future 2 - Innovative Economy]

Senior and fellow members,

The second cooperation task for the future is the innovative economy.

With the old economic development paradigm, we can no longer guarantee development or even survival.

We cannot lead the complex and globalized Korean economy with outdated views and ideologies such as state-led economy and trickle-down effect.

We must admit that such an era is over.

Challenges in new fields are always good news for us.

Considering the scale of the Korean economy, science and technology, and people's capabilities,

there is no excuse if we fall behind.

Now, we can advance as much as we prepare and work hard.

Depending on how and in what direction we proceed,

we can become a leading country in new industries.

We can create standards and cooperation systems.

We saw the beginning of this in the hydrogen economy,

and confirmed that our companies are well prepared.

If politics cooperates well and supports properly,

our companies can achieve more results.

Currently, artificial intelligence is leading innovation.

Based on advanced technology,

it will soon become a new momentum for global economic growth.

In Korea, as of 2022, AI sales reached 4 trillion won,

with an annual growth rate of 42.7%.

There are about 2,000 AI companies,

and about 40,000 employees, showing high growth.

Since the emergence of ChatGPT,

Korean companies have actively participated in the competition to develop large-scale AI platforms and achieved results.

Small and startup companies are launching specialized AI services in niche areas using large-scale AI platforms.

Cloud is the core infrastructure of the AI industry.

Global big tech companies are transforming into large-scale AI infrastructure companies in the private sector based on massive capital and technology.

Although global cloud companies dominate the domestic market,

domestic platform companies and telecom operators are strengthening the cloud industry in response.

AI is directly related to technological hegemony and national security.

This is also a reason to promote private investment across the AI and cloud industries.

It is time to strengthen the full stack strategy based on domestic AI semiconductors that are ultra-fast, low-power, and low-cost.

Ruling and opposition parties must join forces

to expand independent large-scale AI and cloud infrastructure through bold policy support.

We must actively prepare a 'Korean version of the IRA law'

to generously support our companies to have competitiveness with advanced technology over foreign companies.

Currently, many bills related to 'AI industry promotion' are pending in the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee.

We will strive to complete legislation promptly through social consensus, ensuring consistency and interoperability considering international norms and standards.

There is no quantum jump in science and technology.

Steady investment and continuous encouragement that allow failure and wait for results are necessary.

This is precisely the reason for the existence of the state.

Cutting R&D budgets and making impulsive policies with insufficient insight that only promise support

cannot create technological advancement and economic innovation in Korea.

This is why ruling and opposition parties must put their heads together and cooperate for Korea's future food sources and future industries.

[Political Cooperation Task for the Future 3 - Climate Crisis Response]

Senior and fellow members,

The third cooperation task for the future is effective response to the climate crisis, which is becoming serious worldwide.

Many experts have raised great concerns about the continuous regression of climate crisis response and eco-friendly industries under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Last year, Korea ranked 64th out of 67 countries in climate change response.

Considering that only oil-producing countries in the Middle East are behind us,

we are practically at the bottom.

This is a dismal report card.

Our renewable energy generation ratio in 2022 was 7.7%, the lowest among OECD countries.

While the world is rapidly expanding renewable energy,

we are going backward alone.

Looking at solar power installation capacity in 2023,

China has 240 GW, the U.S. 33 GW, Germany 13 GW,

but we have only 2.7 GW.

Due to the government's retreat from renewable energy policy,

some related factories have stopped operating,

and damage is spreading throughout the domestic solar power industry.

It remains a mystery why eco-friendly industries were turned into political issues.

It is even more unreasonable to regress eco-friendly industries to blindly discard the previous government's policies.

The 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP28)

adopted a resolution for the first time to 'transition away from fossil fuels.'

It also presented a concrete goal to triple renewable energy generation capacity by 2030.

The Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the domestic economy, which were retreating in the renewable energy industry, are now under pressure.

Korea, as an advanced economy, must not only comply with international norms

but also respond more quickly and systematically to expand renewable energy.

Also, by revitalizing related industries,

we must create a foundation for new economic development.

To this end, when establishing the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand,

renewable energy must be expanded more than threefold compared to the existing plan.

The renewable energy generation capacity by 2030 should be at least 89,206 MW, three times that of 2023,

and considering the increase in renewable energy demand such as RE100,

the generation ratio should be 30.7%, according to research results.

To restore the renewable energy industrial ecosystem and achieve RE100,

related support systems and budgets must be restored.

Related industries and individual companies, as well as local governments, must prepare and support RE100 initiatives.

Meanwhile, bills to expand offshore wind power supply must also be processed in the National Assembly.

They are already under discussion in the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee,

and I hope ruling and opposition parties will promptly process them for Korea's future industries.

We await the People Power Party's response on this.

Let's start cooperative politics with what is possible immediately.

[Political Cooperation Task for the Future 4 - Low Birthrate Measures]

Dear citizens,

Senior and fellow members,

The fourth task for cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives,

is to urgently prepare measures for the low birthrate.

There is no time to find the perfect answer for low birthrate measures.

Families, companies, and the government must respect each other's opinions

and immediately implement agreed measures.

We have wasted time and money on obvious policies with huge budgets.

As a result, we have failed to produce effective measures and results.

We are ashamed before the people.

Now, we need a bold change in thinking to break the inertia of familiar failures.

Currently, among nine government committee members of the 'Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee,' except for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family,

eight are men in their 50s and 60s.

Among nine operating committee members, eight are the same.

Without properly understanding why young people do not marry or have children,

they can only repeat armchair discussions.

Regarding this issue related to national survival,

we must be much bolder and more meticulous than now.

The People Power Party announced low birthrate policy pledges in January.

We welcome the fact that they presented more advanced policies than before.

Many points are similar to policies proposed by the Democratic Party.

The pledge to extend paternity leave to one month,

raise the upper limit of parental leave benefits,

and introduce paid child care leave are policies similar to the Democratic Party's pledges,

which can form a consensus.

Especially, the pledge to revise the law to automatically start parental leave upon application

is exactly the same as the Democratic Party's previous pledge.

However, the People Power Party's pledge has points to supplement to increase feasibility.

Currently, the utilization rate of spousal paternity leave is only 9.3%.

Therefore, the Democratic Party proposed to extend the spousal paternity leave period,

allow use with just notification to the employer, and expand the target to de facto spouses.

Also, if only the upper limit of parental leave benefits is raised without improving the criteria,

low-wage workers earning minimum wage may face reverse discrimination, so supplementation is needed.

The Democratic Party proposed an alternative to provide an additional monthly 500,000 won as a 'Work-Life Balance Premium for Small and Medium Enterprise Workers' for childbirth and childcare.

In addition to introducing child care leave,

we propose adding child-rearing as a reason for family care leave.

Nevertheless, there is no major disagreement between the two parties' policies.

We formally propose again today not just to promise but to act quickly.

The ruling party's 'work-family balance'-centered measures

have limitations in structurally and fundamentally solving the low birthrate problem.

The root cause of the low birthrate problem is linked to the deepening inequality in our society.

Without courage to confront inequality head-on,

solving the low birthrate problem is impossible.

Therefore, the Democratic Party announced bold and innovative low birthrate measures covering work-family balance, housing, assets, and care with the policy philosophy of overcoming inequality.

We hope the ruling party will promptly respond to the Democratic Party's pledges such as introducing marriage and childbirth support funds,

providing loans to all newlyweds regardless of income and assets, and reducing principal and interest according to the number of children,

expanding housing support for newlyweds up to 10 years of marriage, and 'Our Child Embrace Housing' providing appropriate housing according to the number of children,

and the 'Our Child Independence Fund' co-supported by the government.

We should not claim policy ownership or achievements for these policies,

nor wait until after the general election, but proceed with necessary legislation immediately to give new hope to the people.

Let's start politics of tolerance and cooperation right now.

If cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives continues through low birthrate policies into the 22nd National Assembly,

it will be the greatest achievement of the 21st National Assembly.

[Let's Restore Politics Together.]

Dear citizens,

Speaker and senior and fellow members,

Democracy is slow.

We must find pieces that can be agreed upon, even small ones,

and spend patient time to reach agreement somehow.

We want everything to be processed quickly,

but it is not easy to reach conclusions without consensus.

Failing to endure that time and accumulating grudges against each other,

the National Assembly has increasingly left political issues to judicial decisions.

Dear citizens, I ask for your support not for the results of wins and losses,

but for the tension and effort of the consensus process, the long debates and compromises.

Democracy develops by nourishing differences and diversity.

Politics is the art of realizing human imagination, creativity, and cooperation to solve problems.

Now, Korean politics, which only remains 'by law,'

needs restoration to compete and conflict based on trust,

and find paths of compromise and agreement through negotiation.

The National Assembly of Korea must communicate again.

Communicate with the people and between ruling and opposition parties.

I believe the day will come when politics becomes the people's dreams and hopes,

and a balancer that mediates conflicts.

Despite the irresponsibility and immaturity of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration,

the national system has not collapsed yet thanks to the mature democratic participation consciousness of our people.

Our history is a history of challenges.

At every turning point, we have overcome difficult crises well and turned them into opportunities to leap forward.

It was a miracle created by the people's potential.

Respected senior and fellow members, I appeal once again.

Now, regardless of ruling and opposition parties, progressives and conservatives,

politics must prepare for the future based on tolerant attitudes and cooperation.

We can do it.

The Democratic Party of Korea will start.

We will be with everyone.

Thank you for listening.