Saemirae Gears Up for Maintenance, Resumes Policy Pledges... Will It Address Innovation in the Medical Sector?

As Saeroun Mirae, which has parted ways with the Reform New Party, begins reorganizing its structure, it plans to resume policy pledges starting next week.

On the 21st, Saeroun Mirae held a Responsibility Committee meeting at its Yeouido headquarters in Seoul and appointed Jo Gisuk, former Blue House Chief of Public Relations, as the Chair of the Nomination Management Committee, and Professor Kim Manheum, former head of the National Assembly Legislative Research Office and current distinguished professor at Hansung University, as the Chair of the Policy Committee.

Professor Jo Gisuk of Ewha Womans University participated in the founding of the Uri Party and is a pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) figure who served as Chief of Public Relations during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Chair Jo stated, "Although I have been granted full authority, I will not engage in 'closed-door appointments' wielding absolute power," adding, "I will discover candidates who possess the merchant’s practical sense and the scholar’s critical awareness, like former President Kim Dae-jung."

Saeroun Mirae emphasized its distinction from other parties by focusing on the nation rather than factions, and on recovering the lost spirit, values, and dignity of the Democratic Party, calling itself the "real Democratic Party." Lee Nak-yeon, co-representative of Saeroun Mirae, said, "When President Kim Dae-jung founded the National Congress for New Politics in 1995, he said he would create a party for the middle class and common people, excluding reactionary Cold War forces and extreme reformists. We share a similar vision," clarifying the party’s identity.

The announcement of policy pledges, which had been suspended due to discussions on third-way integration, will also resume next week. Previously, the party announced △a public breakfast project for youth △expansion of coverage under the National Health Insurance for seniors △and reduction of the out-of-pocket rate to 5% for patients with severe dementia.

Lee Nak-yeon, co-representative of Saeroun Mirae, is speaking at a press conference held at the Saeroun Mirae party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Specifically, the plan is to provide free breakfast such as sandwiches and rice balls to youth, and to reduce the current 20% out-of-pocket rate for medical and pharmaceutical inpatient services for all seniors to 10%. Additionally, the out-of-pocket rate for patients with severe dementia will be lowered to 5%, and support for senior dental implants will be expanded to cover up to four implants.

Saeroun Mirae is expected to address concrete policy pledges regarding medical sector innovation alongside the four major political reform goals set by the party. Previously, co-representative Lee Nak-yeon held a policy meeting on nursing assistant issues at the Korea Association of Nursing Assistants. The association proposed the necessity of △abolishing academic restrictions for eligibility to take the nursing assistant national exam △and legal recognition of the Korea Association of Nursing Assistants as a statutory organization.

Meanwhile, Saeroun Mirae aims to secure at least 30 seats in the April 10 general election. Currently, the Democratic Party of Korea, led by Lee Jae-myung, is sharply divided between pro-Lee and pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) factions, amid growing controversy over so-called 'non-Lee faction' nominations. It is reported that pro-Moon faction members, considered non-mainstream within the party, are being disadvantaged in nominations. Political circles view that Saeroun Mirae, positioning itself as the "real Democratic Party," is likely to take advantage of nomination conflicts to recruit pro-Moon faction members.